First Station

 Station One : Jesus is Condemned

   The first station is that of Jesus being brought before Pilate and He is condemned to Death. Those around Jesus left Him and did not defend Him. Those who were healed by Jesus also did not speak up. Pilate asked what “ He should do with Jesus” and the crowd replied “ Crucify Him”. Pilate then washes his hands and says the blood is not on his hands but the crowds and Jesus is condemned to death. 

     

    When I think of this station I have always seen it as a two fold reflection. One is from the point of view from Jesus and the other view is from Pilate. 

     First let us reflect on Pilate. Have you ever condemned someone without having real and factual evidence and just based your decision from hear say? Have you ever put the blame of the outcome on others so you can feel that you had no choice or no part of condemning someone? When we condemn someone without hearing the whole story or only listen to the voices of others we are acting as Pilate. Sometimes we need to block out those voices that are trying to control and dictate our decisions. Not every person around us has our best interests at heart. We need to listen to our own heart and mind. Filter out all the voice and focus on what is the truth and not the hearsay. Pilate did not know Jesus by let others dictate to him. It is almost the same as the saying “ Don’t judge a book by its cover”. We need to get to know people before we decide who they are and what they stand for. We are called not to put labels on people but allow them to show us who they are themselves. When you are faced with making decisions about people think of how Pilate handled it and remember once you condemn someone, you rarely get a second chance. 

      Now lets reflect on Jesus. Have you ever been accused of something you have not done? Have those around you turned their backs on you and left you standing alone? When others believe what people say about us, it hurts and we feel betrayed. They listened to others and did not take your own relationship into account or they judged you without knowing you. Labels are placed on us everyday and we carry them. They weigh us down and most of them are not true. Do not let others dictate who you are but be who God created you to be. When people in our lives turn away from us and leave us standing alone it hurts. The pain goes deep because there was a relationship there and now it is in question. People who really care about you will not leave you standing alone but stand by your side and walk with you in the hard times. They will even defend you and your name to others. Those people who are there are the ones that really should matter to you. When people turn their  back on you it is their loss. Sometimes the relationship can be reconciled but it is hard to forget what has gone on. When we feel we are being condemned and people have turned from us we need to turn to Jesus for He will never leave us. He will always be there to listen and hold us until we are able to stand again. We are never alone with Jesus in our hearts. 

       Jesus and Pilate are opposite sides of the same coin in this refection. Both men are being affected by those around them. Pilate allows others to rule his choice as Jesus is condemned by those who rule. At times we all have played both Men in different situations in our lives. We need to remember how it is to feel as Jesus did so we may not be like Pilate. Use this Lent to examine who you are more like. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may you judge and be judged fairly and have those who will stand by you and not turn from you. 

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Lectionary: 224

Reading 1

LV 19:1-2, 11-18

The LORD said to Moses,

“Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:

Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

“You shall not steal.

You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.

You shall not swear falsely by my name,

thus profaning the name of your God.

I am the LORD.

“You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.

You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.

You shall not curse the deaf,

or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,

but you shall fear your God.

I am the LORD.

“You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.

Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,

but judge your fellow men justly.

You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;

nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. 

I am the LORD.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. 

Though you may have to reprove him,

do not incur sin because of him. 

Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the LORD.”

Responsorial Psalm

PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (John 6:63b) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

giving wisdom to the simple.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The command of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eye.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

The ordinances of the LORD are true,

all of them just.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart

find favor before you,

O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Verse Before The Gospel

2 COR 6:2B

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel

MT 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

and all the angels with him,

he will sit upon his glorious throne,

and all the nations will be assembled before him. 

And he will separate them one from another,

as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right,

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.

Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me,

ill and you cared for me,

in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,

or thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,

or naked and clothe you? 

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the king will say to them in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did

for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left,

‘Depart from me, you accursed,

into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you gave me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

a stranger and you gave me no welcome,

naked and you gave me no clothing,

ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty

or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,

and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,

what you did not do for one of these least ones,

you did not do for me.’

And these will go off to eternal punishment,

but the righteous to eternal life.”