This week, our Stations of the Cross reflections continued at lunchtimes in our Upper Site Prayer Garden led by our Prayer Leaders. The focus of our reflections this week was dignity.
At the Seventh Station, the children heard about Jesus’ second fall. They considered how each step must have been so difficult because of the pain he
was suffering and that it was no surprise that he fell again under the weight of the heavy cross. They spoke about how sometimes, when we try very hard at things we need to do, we might feel sad if we keep making mistakes, but Jesus reminds us that with his love and strength in us, we can get up and try again. The people we help, in school and in our communities, might need our help more than once as they experience life’s challenges, just like Jesus did with the cross.
At the Eighth Station, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
The children reflected on the fact that, even during his own pain and suffering, Jesus was able to comfort his followers. He stopped to tell the women who were weeping not to worry
about him, but to worry about their children and the future of society. They discussed how we can show Jesus today that we are following in his footsteps and caring for others, as he asked his followers to stay faithful to his teachings beyond that moment.
At the Ninth Station, we heard of Jesus falling for the third time and being stripped of his clothes. As the soldiers shouted at him to get up, everything human was taken away from him, even his clothes.
The children reflected on the fact that any kind of suffering we go through, especially if people make fun of us, Jesus has gone before us and experienced it too, so we should not feel ashamed or embarrassed. They spoke about bullying and ways we can make sure that bullying doesn’t happen in our school and parish.