REFLECTIONS ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS
The Way of the Cross in the Prophecies and Psalms of the Old Testament
Station I – The Judgement
They have set an ambush for my life; the powerful conspire against me. For no offense or misdeed of mine, Lord (Ps. 59:4).
In return for my love they slander me, even though I prayed for them (Ps 109:4).
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard (Is 50:6).
Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? (Is 53:8).
Station II – The Cross
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth (Is 53:7).
Yet it was infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted (Is 53:4).
Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear (Is 53:11).
Station III – The Fall
Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee; they gathered against me like strangers. They slandered me without ceasing; without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me (Ps 25:15-16).
Their steps even now encircle me; they watch closely, keeping low to the ground (Ps 17:11).
Look upon me, answer me, Lord, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed,’ lest my foes rejoice at my downfall (Ps 13:4-5).
Station IV – The Mother
I have become an outcast to my kin, a stranger to my mother’s children (Ps 69:9).
How many are my foes, Lord! How many rise up against me! (Ps 3:2).
“Come all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering, which has been dealt me, when the Lord afflicted me on the day of his blazing wrath” (Lam 1:12).
Station V – Help
To all my foes I am a thing of scorn (Ps 31:12).
I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From where will my help come? (Ps 121:1).
The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame (Is 50:7).
Station VI – A Gesture of Love
My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting (Is 50:6).
‘Come,’ says my heart, ‘Seek God’s face’; your face, Lord, do I seek! Do not hide your fce from me; do not repel your servant in anger (Ps 27:8-9).
In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; but with enduring love I take pity on you (Is 54:8).
Station VII – The Second Fall
For I am very near to falling; my pain is with me always (Ps 38:18).
Those whose steps are guided by the Lord, whose way God approves, may stumble, but they will never fall, for the Lord holds their hand (Ps 37:23-24).
The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down (Ps 145:14).
Station VIII – Sympathy
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Ps 118:22).
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench (Is 42:3).
The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping (Ps 6:9).
STATION IX – The Next Fall
But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all (Is 53:6).
But the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity (Is 53:10).
But I am a worm, hardly human; scorned by everyone, despised by the people (Ps 22:7).
STATION X – The Man of Suffering
There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem (Is 53:2-3).
STATION XI – The Exaltation
So wasted are my hands and feet that I can count all my bones (Ps 22:17-18).
They repay me evil for good, hatred for my love (Ps. 109:5).
But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by His wounds we are healed. (Is. 63:5).
STATION XII – Death
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (PS 22:1)
Like water my life drains away; all my bones grow soft. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me. (Ps. 22:15).
They state at me and gloat; they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots (PS. 22:18-19).
He was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sins of his people. (Is 53:8).
STATION XIII – On His Mother’s Lap
Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. (Job 1:21)
They shall look on him whom they have thrust through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn (Zec 12:10).
STATION XVI – The Tomb
A grave was assigned him among the wicket (Is 53:9).
O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised and I will do it (Ez 37:12-13).
STATION XV – The Rising from the Dead
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked (Is 53:12).
Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days (Is 53:11).
I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (Is 49:6).
The Way of the Cross in the Prophecies and Psalms of the Old Testament
Station I – The Judgement
They have set an ambush for my life; the powerful conspire against me. For no offense or misdeed of mine, Lord (Ps. 59:4).
In return for my love they slander me, even though I prayed for them (Ps 109:4).
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard (Is 50:6).
Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? (Is 53:8).
Station II – The Cross
Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth (Is 53:7).
Yet it was infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted (Is 53:4).
Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear (Is 53:11).
Station III – The Fall
Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee; they gathered against me like strangers. They slandered me without ceasing; without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me (Ps 25:15-16).
Their steps even now encircle me; they watch closely, keeping low to the ground (Ps 17:11).
Look upon me, answer me, Lord, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed,’ lest my foes rejoice at my downfall (Ps 13:4-5).
Station IV – The Mother
I have become an outcast to my kin, a stranger to my mother’s children (Ps 69:9).
How many are my foes, Lord! How many rise up against me! (Ps 3:2).
“Come all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering, which has been dealt me, when the Lord afflicted me on the day of his blazing wrath” (Lam 1:12).
Station V – Help
To all my foes I am a thing of scorn (Ps 31:12).
I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From where will my help come? (Ps 121:1).
The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame (Is 50:7).
Station VI – A Gesture of Love
My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting (Is 50:6).
‘Come,’ says my heart, ‘Seek God’s face’; your face, Lord, do I seek! Do not hide your fce from me; do not repel your servant in anger (Ps 27:8-9).
In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; but with enduring love I take pity on you (Is 54:8).
Station VII – The Second Fall
For I am very near to falling; my pain is with me always (Ps 38:18).
Those whose steps are guided by the Lord, whose way God approves, may stumble, but they will never fall, for the Lord holds their hand (Ps 37:23-24).
The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down (Ps 145:14).
Station VIII – Sympathy
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Ps 118:22).
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench (Is 42:3).
The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping (Ps 6:9).
STATION IX – The Next Fall
But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all (Is 53:6).
But the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity (Is 53:10).
But I am a worm, hardly human; scorned by everyone, despised by the people (Ps 22:7).
STATION X – The Man of Suffering
There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem (Is 53:2-3).
STATION XI – The Exaltation
So wasted are my hands and feet that I can count all my bones (Ps 22:17-18).
They repay me evil for good, hatred for my love (Ps. 109:5).
But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by His wounds we are healed. (Is. 63:5).
STATION XII – Death
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (PS 22:1)
Like water my life drains away; all my bones grow soft. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me. (Ps. 22:15).
They state at me and gloat; they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots (PS. 22:18-19).
He was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sins of his people. (Is 53:8).
STATION XIII – On His Mother’s Lap
Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. (Job 1:21)
They shall look on him whom they have thrust through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn (Zec 12:10).
STATION XVI – The Tomb
A grave was assigned him among the wicket (Is 53:9).
O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised and I will do it (Ez 37:12-13).
STATION XV – The Rising from the Dead
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked (Is 53:12).
Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days (Is 53:11).
I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (Is 49:6).
