HOLY SATURDAY-STATIONS OF THE CROSS

		2nd Day of the Triduum April 16, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation
		Holy Saturday Prayer God of Lent, God of Holy Week, God of Easter: On the Sabbath, Jesus rested. He was in the grave. He had finished his work. To most people’s eyes, it looked as if it were all over. He was dead and buried. But only as a seed dies when it is planted in the earth, not to decay, but to spring to new life. Teach us to take refuge in you when we are afraid. Teach us that death is not our end. Teach us to hope always in you. And in the resurrection, the making of all things new. Blesed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom of Resurrection. Amen. Song "How Firm a Foundation, You Saints of the Lord" (Click Here For Music) —Author (attributed to): George Keith (1787) How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? “Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed, for I am your God and will still give you aid; I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. “When through the deep waters I call you to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow, for I will be with you, your troubles to bless, and sanctify to you your deepest distress. “When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie, my grace all sufficient shall be your supply; the flames will not hurt you; I only design your dross to consume and your gold to refine. “The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose I will not, I will not, desert to its foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!” Stations Of The Cross Station 1—Jesus prays alone. [Luke 22:39–48] 39 Then Jesus went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives; the disciples accompanied him. 40 When they reached the place, Jesus said to them, “Pray that you not be put to the test.” 41 Then Jesus withdrew about a stone’s throw from them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Abba, if it’s your will, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.”* 45 When Jesus rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted with grief. 46 He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Wake up, and pray that you not be subjected to the trial.” 47 While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd suddenly appeared with Judas, one of the Twelve, at their head. Judas came over to Jesus to embrace him, 48 but Jesus said, “Judas, are you betraying the Chosen One with a kiss?” Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 2—Jesus is arrested. [Matthew 26:45-57] 45 Finally Jesus returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping? Still taking your rest? The hour is upon us—the Chosen One is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up! Let us be on our way! Look, my betrayer is here.” 47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived—accompanied by a great crowd with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Judas had arranged to give them a signal. “Whomever I embrace is the one,” he had said; “take hold of him.” 49 He immediately went over to Jesus and said, “Shalom, Rabbi!” and embraced him. 50 Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, just do what you’re here to do!” At that moment, the crowd surrounded them, laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those who accompanied Jesus drew a sword and slashed at the high priest’s attendant, cutting off an ear. 52 Jesus said, “Put your sword back where it belongs. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. 53 Don’t you think I can call on my Abba God to provide over twelve legions of angels at a moment’s notice? 54 But then how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen this way?” 55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I a robber, that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? Every day I sat teaching in the Temple precincts, yet you never arrested me.” 56 All this happened in fulfillment of the writings of the prophets. Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and fled. 57 Those who had seized Jesus led him off to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the religious scholars and elders had convened. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition. ———————————— Station 3—Sanhedrin tries Jesus. [Mark 14:55–64] 55 The chief priests with the whole Sanhedrin were busy soliciting testimony against Jesus that might lead to his death, but they could not find any. 56 Many gave false testimony against Jesus, but their stories did not agree. 57 Some, for instance, on taking the stand, testified falsely by saying, 58 “We heard him declare, ‘I will destroy this Temple made by human hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands!’ ” 59 But even in this, their testimony did not agree. 60 The high priest stood up before the court and began to interrogate Jesus: “Have you no answer to what these people are testifying against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Once again the high priest interrogated him: “Are you the Messiah, the Only Begotten of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus replied, “I am! And you will see the Chosen One seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 At that, the high priest tore his robes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” They all said Jesus was guilty and condemned him to death. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 4—Pilate tries Jesus. [John 18:28–37] 28 At daybreak, they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. The Temple authorities didn’t enter the Praetorium, for they would have become ritually unclean and unable to eat the Passover seder. 29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What charges do you bring against this person?” 30 They responded, “We wouldn’t have brought him to you if he weren’t a criminal.” 31 Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him by your own Law.” The Temple authorities replied, “We don’t have the power to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill what Jesus had said about the way he was going to die. 33 So Pilate reentered the Praetorium and summoned Jesus. “Are you the King of the Jews?” asked Pilate. 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “Am I Jewish? It is your own people and the chief priests who hand you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My realm is not of this world; if it belonged to this world, my people would have fought to keep me out of the hands of the Temple authorities. No, my realm is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said, “So you’re a King?” Jesus replied, “You say I’m a King. I was born and came into the world for one purpose—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who seeks the truth hears my voice.” Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 5—Pilate sentences Jesus. [Mark 15:6–15] 6 Now whenever there was a festival, Pilate would release for them one prisoner—anyone they asked for. 7 There was a prisoner named Barabbas who was jailed along with the rioters who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 When the crowd came to ask that Pilate honor the custom, 9 Pilate rejoined, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 Pilate was aware, of course, that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. 11 But the chief priests incited the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead. 12 Pilate again asked them, “What am I to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?” 13 The people shouted back, “Crucify him!” 14 “Why?” Pilate asked. “What crime has he committed?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and, after having Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 6—Jesus wears crown. [John 19:4-16] 4 Pilate came outside once more and said to the crowd, “Look, I’ll bring him out here to make you understand that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out wearing the purple robe and the crown of thorns, and Pilate said, “Look upon the one you accuse!” 6 When the chief priests and the Temple guards saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate told them, “Do it yourself. I find no reason to condemn him.” 7 “We have a law,” the Temple authorities replied, “that says he ought to die because he claimed to be the Only Begotten of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid. 9 He went back into the Praetorium and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” Jesus didn’t answer. 10 Then Pilate said to Jesus, “You refuse to speak? Bear in mind that I have the power to release you—and the power to crucify you.” 11 “You would have no authority over me,” Jesus replied, “unless it had been given to you by God. Therefore the person who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 Upon hearing this, Pilate attempted to set Jesus free. But the crowd shouted, “If you set him free, you’re no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who claims to be a king defies Caesar!” 13 Hearing these words, Pilate took Jesus outside and seated himself on the judge’s seat at the place called the Pavement—“Gabbatha,” in Hebrew. 14 Now it was almost noon on Preparation Day for the Passover. Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!” 15 “Take him away!” they shouted. “Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Do you want me to crucify your king?” The chief priests said, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 7—Jesus carries his cross. [John 19:16b–17] So they took Jesus, 17 carrying his own cross, to what is called the Place of the Skull—in Hebrew, “Golgotha.” Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Station 8—Simon carries cross. [Luke 23:26] 26 As they led Jesus away, they seized Simon—a Cyrenean who was just coming in from the fields—and forced him to carry the cross behind Jesus. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 9—Jesus speaks to the women. [Luke 23:27–31] 27 A large crowd was following, many of them women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 At one point, Jesus turned to these women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me! Weep rather for yourselves and for your children! 29 The time is coming when it will be said, ‘Blessed are the childless, the wombs that have never given birth and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 Then people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us up!’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 10—Jesus is crucified. [Luke 23:32–38] 32 Two others were also led off with Jesus, criminals who were to be put to death. 33 When they had reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there—together with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Abba forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Then they divided his garments, rolling dice for them. 35 The people stood there watching. The rulers, however, jeered him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself—if he really is the Messiah of God, the Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They served Jesus sour wine 37 and said, “If you are really the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was an inscription above Jesus that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 11—Criminals speak to Jesus. [Luke 23:39–43] “Are you really the Messiah? Then save yourself—and us!” 40 But the other answered the first with a rebuke: “Don’t you even fear God? 41 We are only paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong!” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your glory.” 43 Jesus replied, “The truth is, today you’ll be with me in paradise!” Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 12—Jesus speaks to Mary and the Beloved Disciple. [John 19:25–27] 25 Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother; his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary of Magdala. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Here is your son.” 27 Then he said to his disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment, the disciple took her into his household. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 13—Jesus dies on the cross. [John 19:28–30] 28 After this, Jesus knew that now all was completed, and to fulfill scripture perfectly, he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 There was a jar of cheap wine nearby, so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick and raised it to his lips. 30 Jesus took the wine and said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. ———————————— Station 14—Jesus is laid in tomb. [John 19:38–42] 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus—but a secret one, for fear of the Temple authorities—asked Pilate for permission to remove the body of Jesus, and Pilate granted it. So Joseph came and took it away. 39 Nicodemus came as well—the same one who had first come to Jesus by night—and he brought about one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the Jewish burial custom. 41 There was a garden in the place where Jesus had been crucified, and in the garden was a new tomb where no one had ever been buried. 42 Since it was the day before the Sabbath and the tomb was nearby, they buried Jesus there. Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. Prayer Merciful and everliving God, Creator of heaven and earth, the crucified body of your Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy day. Grant that we may await with him the dawning of the third day and rise in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. Song "We Walk By Faith" (Click Here For Music} —Author: Henry Alford (1844) We walk by faith, and not by sight, no gracious words we hear from him who spoke as none e’er spoke, but we believe him near. We may not touch his hands and side, nor follow where he trod; but in his promise we rejoice and cry, “My Lord and God!” Help then, O Lord, our unbelief; and may our faith abound to call on you when you are near, and seek where you are found. For you, O resurrected Lord, are found in means divine: beneath the water and the Word, beneath the bread and wine. Lord, when our life of faith is done, in realms of clearer light we may behold you as you are with full and endless sight.