Station I: Jesus in the Garden Of Gethsemane
Reading:
Jesus and his disciples came to the Garden of Gethsemane by moonlight. Grief and anguish came over him, and he said to his disciples, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay awake with me.”
Then he walked a little further, fell to the ground, and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of sorrow from me. Not as I will, but as you will."
When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not stay awake with me for one hour? Keep watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Reflection:
When Jesus tells his disciples to stay awake it is a test to see if we can continue his teachings when he is gone. Staying awake also means staying aware. In order to stay aware we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Being aware can mean so many different things in life.
It’s hard to always be aware of what’s going on. A person who is not aware is someone who doesn’t care about how his or her actions affect the world. Through unawareness we have destroyed some of the beauty of the world.
But we can help save the planet by recycling, composting, buying local food and not polluting. If we do these simple things we can start to become aware of the planet. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Stay awake.
Station II: Jesus Betrayed by Judas
Reading:
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived, accompanied by soldiers with swords and clubs.
Judas had arranged a signal with them, saying, "The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and take him away."
So when he entered the garden he approached Jesus and said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this signal the soldiers grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
Reflection:
Everyone has been betrayed and betrayed someone else at least once in his or her life. Betrayal is the most painful thing a human could do to another person. In this station, Jesus’ best friend betrayed him and signed off his death. However, who will ultimately suffer the most, Jesus or Judas? Jesus’ feelings may have been marred, but Judas will suffer from heart-wrenching guilt for the rest of his life.
Fortunately, loyalty thrives in our lives just as powerfully as betrayal. Loyalty is the sole thing that holds friends together, that holds a husband a wife together, and that holds a brother and sister together.
There is no real friendship without loyalty. Loyalty can rebuild the walls of friendship that betrayal reduced to dust. Without loyalty, love could not exist.
Station III: Jesus Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Reading:
When day came the council of elders of the people met, and they brought Jesus before their supreme court. They said, "Tell us are you the Messiah?"
He replied, "If I tell you, you will not believe me.”
They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am."
Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it from his own mouth."
Reflection:
Jesus stood up against the authority. He was being questioned in court about whether he was the messiah or not. Jesus did not answer in a straightforward manner, and the judge was not pleased.
Freedom is the act of doing and saying what you want and not having others tell you what to do. Many people around the world don't get the freedoms that we do in the United States. We are lucky for all of the different types of freedom that we get. There is freedom of speech, freedom of action, freedom of will, and many more. But are we completely free?
Everyday, children are told what to do. From parents, to teachers, siblings, and even friends, children are being controlled. But it's not only children who are being bossed around. Many adults feel they are controlled by someone else.
We think that freedom is important for all people. Everyone should get to do what they want, say what they want, and be who they want.
Station I: Jesus Denied by Peter
Reading:
Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A bystander came over to him and said, "Weren’t you also with Jesus." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!"
As he went out to the gate, another bystander saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!"
A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you are one of Jesus’ disciples; even your Galilean accent gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. And Peter remembered the words that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly.
Reflection:
When Peter denied Jesus, he wasn’t trying to lie; he was just trying to protect himself. However, in the act of protection, Peter spun himself into a web of lies. If he had told the truth, there would be consequences, but he would have known he had done the right thing.
Do you always tell the truth? Imagine a time when you have lied. Think of how it feels to lie. It doesn’t make you feel good, does it? It feels heart drenching and soul clenching. It builds and builds until it overwhelms you.
The truth feels a thousand times better than lying. The truth is unchallengeable. The truth is unconquerable. The truth is tangible. The truth is uplifting. The truth is heartwarming. The truth is final.
Station V: Jesus Judged by Pilate
Reading:
Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate the Roman governor. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "So you say."
Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? Do you see how many things you are accused of?" Jesus gave him no further answer.
… Pilate was amazed and ordered Jesus to be crucified.
Reflection:
Truth is the foundation of every society, religion, friendship, and relationship. Without it we as humans would not be able to get anywhere in life. Truth will overpower lies if everyone takes part in telling the truth.
Try to make justice. Jesus said, “Treat you neighbor as you would want to be treated.” Justice is like a balance scale. Even though justice is not always reached, just having the thought of justice in your mind will help it get there.
Every change starts with you. Try to think about what you are saying and what you are doing, then truth and justice will be spread throughout the world.
Station VI: Jesus Crowned with Thorns
Reading:
The soldiers of Pontius Pilate took hold of Jesus and led him into a great hall. There they stripped him of his clothes and draped him in a robe of purple, like a king. On his head they placed a crown of thorns. Then the soldiers knelt before Jesus and mocked him.
“Hail, king of the Jews,” they laughed, spitting on Jesus and beating his head with a cane.
Reflection:
Mockery hurts everyone, including the person who is doing the mocking. It exists everywhere. People mock other people because they feel uncomfortable with themselves and their own faults. People do it to feel better about themselves. Everyone has their own reason.
We can stop mockery. When you see someone being mocked, stand up for them. When you are being mocked, the best thing to do is ignore it and be confident with yourself.
Being prejudiced and judgmental causes a lot of hurt in the world. By treating everyone equally and fairly, everyone wins. We need to accept the fact that everybody has their own style of doing things and their own method. That’s not something to make fun of, it’s something to appreciate. Every single person is unique.
Station VII: Jesus bears the cross
Reading:
When the priests saw Jesus they cried out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" And the soldiers took Jesus, and made him carry his own cross out to a hill called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.”
Reflection:
You may see violence in the streets, on the news, or maybe even in your own house. Americans see violence everywhere. This leads to violent kids and frustrated adults who don’t understand how to express their emotions with words.
Violence is within everyone, so we must learn to control it. The cycle of violence starts in our mind and leads to our actions.
The solution to ending violence is to get rid the anger inside us, and learn that with respect, and kindness we will solve our problems.
Station VIII: Jesus is helped by Simon the Cyrenian
Reading:
Jesus stumbled under the heavy wooden cross that he had to carry and fell on the rough cobblestones. In the crowd was a man called Simon, from Cyrene, who was passing on his way from the country. The soldiers took hold of him and ordered him to carry the wooden cross on which Jesus would be crucified.
Reflection:
Helping others is the most important aspect of life. When you help others, people will notice and follow in your footsteps. People are like a chain reaction, if one goes in the wrong direction, the others will follow, but if you go in the right direction, others will follow.
Even if no one is looking, you should still help others, and be humble about your accomplishments. Helping can be accomplished in small ways: donating to a charity, or helping an elderly person.
We are given many opportunities to help others. Some people choose to fulfill those opportunities, and some decide to overlook them.
What opportunities will today bring to you? Think of the simple things. When you go home help your mother cook dinner or help clean the dishes. You can help by going to a soup kitchen or helping a friend do some homework. Will you choose to help?
Station IX: Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
Reading:
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who wept for him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem do not weep for me. But weep for yourselves and your children for days are coming when the world will be in peril. Right now the wood is green, but what will happen when it is dry.”
Reflection:
Imagine the world without people, plants, animals. Without life there would be nothing. What if all of that was our fault, just because we didn’t recycle a can or pick up a piece of trash on the floor.
We all do little things that we think aren’t important. But they grow, and in time they will catch up with us. We need to not let that happen! Make a change in yourself and help the world.
You can reduce, reuse, recycle. Little things make a big change. Together we can make a difference. Make a change.
Station X: Jesus is crucified
Reading:
When they reached the hill of Golgotha, a lonely spot outside the city walls, they crucified Jesus along with two thieves, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus called out, "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do."
Reflection:
Not everyone is capable of forgiveness. Although at times we may claim to have forgiven, we never forget, and that small bit of coldness lives on in our soul forever like a pebble in a river. Forgiveness is our decision, though it may be unconscious it is solely ours. Jesus was able to forgive when hanging from a cross on a hill, and he died a free man despite his bondage.
How can we, as humans, truly forgive? With little things, we do truly forgive, but with some things it is too much. Can we forgive the murder? Can we forgive those who harm us or our family? False forgiveness is a selfish thing, only those with the purest intentions can truly forgive, and it is those who understand Jesus’ message.
Station XI: Jesus promises the Kingdom to the good thief
Reading:
One of the thieves hanging there next to Jesus insulted him, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Then save yourself and us."
But the other thief scolded him, and said, "For us, the punishment is fair. We have committed crimes. But this man has done no wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus, "Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus replied to him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reflection:
The good thief wanted to leave the earth without guilt and take the path to heaven. He was showing his own atonement - making up for misdeeds - and his reward was leaving the earth with a good heart.
All of us have responsibilities towards each other and ourselves. Atonement is taking responsibility for your actions and living up to the punishment.
It’s showing you can transform your life and understanding that change is a part of everything. We can choose which path we take, like the good and bad thief.
Station XII: Jesus speaks to Mary and his disciple
Reading:
As the sky darkened, Jesus lowered his eyes and saw his followers who had come to be with him. Among them were John, his beloved disciple, and Mary, his mother.
“Mother, this is your son,” he said to Mary and nodded to John. To John, he said, “Son, this is your mother.” For Jesus wanted John to take care of Mary.
Reflection:
Family has no boundaries. No rules. A family can be anything or anyone. It can those you’ve known since you were born, or those you met yesterday. Take Mary and John. Jesus introduced them and moments later they were a family.
But sometimes your family can aggravate you, whether they’re your blood relatives or your closest friends. They can upset you and get under your skin in a way no one else can, because they are closer to you than anyone else. Does this mean that you’re not a real family? No! Even fighting can bring a family closer. They’ll be there for you, through tough and easy, even when you really don’t want them there. You’ll come to appreciate it in the end.
A family needs each other, just like Mary and Jesus need each other, just like Jesus and his disciples need each other, just like John and Mary now need each other, just like a family needs each other, and just like we all need each other
Station XIII: Jesus dies on the cross
Reading:
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus cried out in his agony. It was the middle of the day but the sky darkened and the sun was eclipsed.
“It is done,” Jesus said, with a loud cry. “Father, into your hands I give my spirit.” He bowed his head and died.
Reflection:
Death is the unknown. People are afraid of the unknown. But if we accept it, we can accept death and live without worry.
No one knows what happens after death. All religions discuss it. It is one of the most controversial subjects. Religious experts, philosophers, and other people all over the world are constantly discussing what happens after death. But no one knows exactly.
Maybe it doesn’t matter what other people believe, it’s what you believe that matters.
Station XIV: Jesus is placed in the tomb
Reading:
Joseph of Arimathea, a rich and important man who was a faithful follower of Jesus, went to Pontius Pilate. Bravely, he asked the Roman governor to let him bury Jesus. Pilate gave his permission. With haste, Joseph returned to Golgotha.
Joseph gently took Jesus’ body down from the cross. He wrapped it in fine, clean linen, and laid it in a new tomb, cut from rock. In front of the tomb he rolled a heavy rock.
Reflection:
People have different explanations of what happens to the body and the spirit when we die. Some say that all life ceases. Some say the spirit rises up to heaven. Some say that we are united with a new body. It is impossible to know what really happens.
I am both the body and the spirit. The body and the spirit hold very different places in life. The body is our physical self. The spirit is our feeling self.
My body may decay once I die, and become one with nature. Every part of my body may decompose, and turn into dust. But my spirit will always live on. My spirit is eternal.
