The Stations of the Cross

Perhaps you are already familiar with the Stations of the Cross. They are a series of 14 depictions of the Passion of Christ. You can see them along the walls of any Catholic church. They take on a heightened importance during Lent, with each Friday (the day of the crucifixion, mind you) being a day to commemorate the Passion through meditation on the Stations. (On an aside, this summer we had a great deal of fun following the Stations of the Cross in Rocamadour, France as we ascended a very steep hill. Unfortunately, we failed to muster the appropriate attitude of solemn devotion and meditation.)
Someone at the church has placed an alternative version of the Stations, that I find profoundly moving, in the hallway. I suppose it is the work of Father Steve. The posters equate Christ’s Passion with various scenes of modern day suffering.

For me, this is the core of who we are as Catholics (at least, ideally – sometimes we get distressingly lost in the lesser points of doctrine). This is our main purpose – to see he face of the Divine in all of humanity, and act on that vision. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall have their fill.. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Here’s the revolution of Christianity – our higher calling is social action and justice. I know I’m not doing enough, for whatever it’s worth to say it. Sometimes I feel so paralyzed by the tragedy of it all. To crucify a Messiah – what on earth are the implications of it?