Lenten Meditations on the Stations of the Cross
Prayed in the Spirit of Taizé
Taizé, a tiny village hidden away in the hills of Burgundy, France, is a place to which visitors of all ages and backgrounds come on pilgrimage, to participate in the international meetings of ecumenical prayer and reflection. (Forward, Music from Taizé, 1984)
We pray this prayer, gathered in that same spirit of ecumenism. Our meditation centers on the events of Christ’s passion and death, which ultimately have gained for us eternal life.
Please follow down the page for the order of music and prayer:
We pray this prayer, gathered in that same spirit of ecumenism. Our meditation centers on the events of Christ’s passion and death, which ultimately have gained for us eternal life.
Please follow down the page for the order of music and prayer:
Meditation 1: Jesus Is Condemned to death
Jesus, like us in all things except for our sin, during his trial and crucifixion, experienced more than simply physical torment. He also suffered rejection by his own religious leaders and politically motivated injustice from the civil authorities. Yet he embraced all of these as part of his mission from the Father.
Reading: John 19:9-16
Pilate went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him aways, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.
Jesus, like us in all things except for our sin, during his trial and crucifixion, experienced more than simply physical torment. He also suffered rejection by his own religious leaders and politically motivated injustice from the civil authorities. Yet he embraced all of these as part of his mission from the Father.
Reading: John 19:9-16
Pilate went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him aways, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.
Meditation 2: Jesus falls under the weight of the cross
In the traditional Stations of the Cross, Jesus falls under his heavy burden three times. In order to be one with us, Jesus came to experience even the darkness and selfishness that haunt our lives and weigh down our loves - in order to lift us up and heal us.
Reading: Isaiah 53:4-8
Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following our own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers; he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people.
In the traditional Stations of the Cross, Jesus falls under his heavy burden three times. In order to be one with us, Jesus came to experience even the darkness and selfishness that haunt our lives and weigh down our loves - in order to lift us up and heal us.
Reading: Isaiah 53:4-8
Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following our own way; but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers; he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people.
Meditation 3: Jesus meets comforters along the way
Jesus met several people on the road to Calvary: Simon of Cyrene who was forced to help carry the cross; some women of Jerusalem who followed behind him, weeping in compassion for him, and Veronica who wiped his face. All of these people helped a condemned criminal. And Jesus was grateful for their service--willingly or not. Yet all around us are people, often not very attractive people, who are in great need and suffering.
Reading: Matthew 25:37-40
Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
The righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of mine, you did for me.”
Jesus met several people on the road to Calvary: Simon of Cyrene who was forced to help carry the cross; some women of Jerusalem who followed behind him, weeping in compassion for him, and Veronica who wiped his face. All of these people helped a condemned criminal. And Jesus was grateful for their service--willingly or not. Yet all around us are people, often not very attractive people, who are in great need and suffering.
Reading: Matthew 25:37-40
Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
The righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of mine, you did for me.”
Meditation 4: Jesus is stripped, nailed to the cross, and dies
Jesus was stripped of his clothes, nailed to a cross, and raised up to suffer and die in the view of everyone, before being taken down and buried in a borrowed tomb. He experienced disgrace and humiliation, pain and even abandonment - just as we sometimes do. Yet he was faithful to his mission to the end. And so the victory remains with Love.
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was stripped of his clothes, nailed to a cross, and raised up to suffer and die in the view of everyone, before being taken down and buried in a borrowed tomb. He experienced disgrace and humiliation, pain and even abandonment - just as we sometimes do. Yet he was faithful to his mission to the end. And so the victory remains with Love.
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Here is an opportunity to take some quiet time, maybe 5-10 minutes, and reflect on the scenes above and what needs, concerns, petitions you might bring before God.
After your reflection, perhaps offer the Lord’s Prayer and then the following:
Concluding Prayer: composed by Br. Roger Schütz, founder of Taizé
O Christ, you take upon yourself all our burdens, so that freed of all that weighs us down, we can constantly begin to walk anew, from worry towards trusting, from the desert shadows towards the clear flowing water, from our own will towards the vision of the coming kingdom.
And so, in our inner struggle, may we know your forgiveness, and that you offer to make every human being a reflection of your face. Amen.
After your reflection, perhaps offer the Lord’s Prayer and then the following:
Concluding Prayer: composed by Br. Roger Schütz, founder of Taizé
O Christ, you take upon yourself all our burdens, so that freed of all that weighs us down, we can constantly begin to walk anew, from worry towards trusting, from the desert shadows towards the clear flowing water, from our own will towards the vision of the coming kingdom.
And so, in our inner struggle, may we know your forgiveness, and that you offer to make every human being a reflection of your face. Amen.
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Bellarmine Chapel
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