WYD Stations of the Cross

Categories: friends, reading, other-churches

Date: 19 July 2008 09:13:06

Far better photos at the Official Site, but you can see my poor, and delayed [I didn't start taking photos until the end of the 4th Station: I was too captivated to remember before-hand!], efforts here.

The Stations of the Cross was far more moving, and challenging, then I had thought it would be. Seeing the drama played out "in real life" brings something to the meditation on Jesus' life and death that did not come to me from reading or hearing the Scriptures. Similar feelings were brought out, on seeing the events unfold, to when I have seen the Turramurra Passion. In addition, the reflections and prayers [PDF] were exceptionally beautiful and very challenging. All thanks and congratulations to whomever wrote them: they touched my heart, and I am sure many others. The prayers of Stations 2 and Station 5 were particularly moving to me, and Station 2 rather apt for my sufferings of depression and anxiety:

Prayer of Station 2:
Lord, you know by experience what it is to suffer terrible stress and attack. You see in us, and in our world, many kinds of anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear. You know how tempted we can be to run away, evade our responsibilities through drink or drugs, the Internet or other distractions. Help us, in your Holy Spirit, to be clear-eyed and courageous. Keep our faith strong when we are under attack. Help us always to pray with you: "Father, your kingdom come, your will be done - your will, not mine."

Prayer of Station 5:
Lord of the mistreated, show us how to help those who suffer. Heighten our distaste for every form of cruelty, small or great. Let us never take lightly the way in which life itself is insulted whenever anyone is killed or tortured. Make us resolute in the pursuit of just peace, whether at home or abroad. Let us see how alien cruelty is to you, to your loving Father and to the Spirit. Give us courage even in the face of contempt.

and the words "We are all pilgrims on this earth and heaven is our true homeland" from the prayer of the final Station helped bring joy to my mind: our 'pilgrimage' here on earth is one of my favourite images of this life: and very relevant particularly for this event given the number of pilgrims Sydney is hosting.

Station 7 [Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to Carry His Cross] took place at Darling Harbour, where my friend and I had positioned ourselves, along with many members of the public and a number of pilgrims. Here is the reading, reflection and prayer: I found these challenging, and very relevant given Australia's treatment of the Indigenous peoples, as well as many immigrants and refugees.

As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

Reflection
Simon had no say. Simon, like our Lord, was a victim. He was forced to play a part in the dirty work of crucifixion carried out on behalf of the occupying Romans. He may, later, have wanted to put the episode right out of his mind. But willing or not, he was being drawn into 'the work of our salvation'. He was part of Jesus' final offering of himself to the Father, his saving gift to us. Many opportunities for helping our fellow men and women go 'against the grain'. They come at times and in ways which we would not have chosen, but which cannot wait. May the prospect and the power of Christ's resurrection be our comfort and our hope.

Prayer
Lord, you tell us that whatever we do for those in need, we do for you. You also tell us that you will not always be obvious in those in need; the sick or the starving, the gaoled or the depressed, the refugees and strangers, may not seem to match our image of you and this too, has come to be true of many of the indigenous peoples of our world. But they are truly your sisters and brothers. Help us not to ignore them, but to walk with them and lighten their burdens.

Simon of Cyrene was played by an Indigenous person, and there were Indigenous dancers and mourners on the pontoons. The mourning was, in particular, very heart-breaking. And I am sure as well as mourning for Jesus, the mourning for past, and even current, injustices formed part of it. May God help us indeed to 'walk with those in need and lighten their burdens', even when these actions may go 'against the grain' or come 'at times and in ways which we would not have chosen'.

The 'action' was shown on big screens at a number of sites. Here are some of the crowds as well as the screens at Darling Harbour:

There was definitely a joyous atmosphere, even from the moment where I boarded the train to go to the City. This continued as I walked to Darling Harbour, with a huge number of pilgrims: with their bright packpacks and clothes, waving flags from almost every nation and any number of languages being spoken [making me think of Revelation 7:9], as they made their way to the various locations around the city. It was rather infectious; and I'd even say moreso than during the Olympics. I enjoyed and loved the 2000 Olympics here, but I found this particularly special: people from all over the world gathered together to celebrate their Faith. A beautiful thing to see. [I'd hope the Orthodox could do something similar, but I doubt they could all get together! ;)]

The actors, particularly those playing Jesus, Mary [and even, dare I say, Judas?], were amazing. Jesus in particular in hanging upside down as the soldiers mocked [where he descended to a hidden area to have the bruises and blood applied], in bearing the Cross, as well as, as the two thieves were, hanging upon a cross in very little clothing and an increasingly-chilly Sydney night. The various locations were very well-chosen I thought [the front [from Sydney Webcam] of the Art Gallery for the Sanhedrin Council in particular], and everything was superbly executed -- and the sights of Sydney used to full effect.

The shot to the left was probably one of the most moving scenes, in terms of emotional identification, of the entire Stations. I wish my camera had more zoom, but I think the main characters can be made out. I felt as if I was next to Mary and John the Beloved Disciple, gazing upon Christ crucified -- and my only thought was that I too wished I could huddle together and gain some support in that most distressing time. Yes, I know that there is more, Christ will rise!, but part of entering into this Good Friday devotion, as well as the Church's Liturgical Year, is to put yourself into the events unfolding before you, and identifying with them. And this, to me, was a very moving image.

Afterwards, my friend and I went to the Vocations Expo. It opened at 18:30, and not before-hand, so we, with a number of pilgrims, waited outside. Inside: wow. A huge number of exhibitors [no Cartoonist in residence that I could see :)] with a lot of fascinating and interesting information. I did not sign up for any vocations ;), but did get a great deal of information, as well as buying Pope Benedict XVI's book Jesus of Nazareth: have books, I will buy; never mind the fact I have many sitting on my shelves, as yet unread.

We finished the evening with a nice meal at Darling Harbour, a stroll through Chinatown, and then back home. A truly joyous and wondrous day, thanks be to God.