Second Station of the Cross

Photograph of Wall Art - with thanks to the Artist 

Jesus accepts His Cross. He could have called on legions of angels to defend Him. He was terrified of the capture. He, together with all the tortured, suffered at the hands of others. He wept tears of humiliation and physical anguish. Yet this courageous spiritual Emperor, this warrior at the head of all the heavenly hosts, humbly and willingly accepted the only instrument that would win our salvation; an untimely and violent death. His death - so gently accepted, the injustice - so quietly endured, was the catalyst that has shamed us down the centuries. We saw, in this gentle GodMan, what we were capable of. And - aghast - we began the process of change. Beginning with Pilate - who regretted his bending to pressure to save his career. Continuing with Peter - who wept anguished tears of contrition at weakening - in the face of a very real threat to his life - to denying his relationship with Jesus. The river of grace and gentle agony on the cross quietly trickled through to a lonely field where a man rent with remorse and inner agony hanged himself for betraying his gentlest of friends, and Judas began his path towards repentance and reconciliation with the King of Forgiveness. The river of love and spiritual reform flowed on towards the soldiers who hammered iron into his body and stood as his life blood ebbed; until the men stood, and began their journey into faith, truly this man was the Son of God. The river flowed on, encompassing the Pharisees and crowd who stood jeering at his physical nakedness and torment of impending death, and surrounded them with forgiveness. The river of Jesus' inner gentleness and compassion eased the death throes of the justly condemned criminal who had inflicted torment and pain on others, easing him into forgiveness and the promise of a whole new life in Paradise. The river continued on as He died, flowing out to the whole world; bringing peace, gentleness, the hope of eternal life and friendship with Him towards me; and towards you . . . 

Jesus wants nothing more than to be our dearest Friend. Why not accept Him now, as you read these words. 'Dear Lord Jesus, I accept your love. Help me on my journey. Amen'.

It is only by accepting our own daily cross - and we all have our difficulties and trials - that we can accept just how heavy His Cross was. The Second Station ... the moment that started the cataclysm that shook our world as we knew it, and began the great process of downfall for satan and his followers . . .