Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Jesus is taken from the cross and laid in the tomb All through Lent, the thirteenth station has stymied me. As I brainstormed topics, it stuck out from the others, not because the application was so obvious as to be trite, but because I came up blank. I…
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To Make Sacred
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Jesus Dies This Lent I’ve been reading The Last Week, by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The authors set out to put the events of Mark’s Gospel into historical context–the geography, the politics, the religious and cultural norms, and most importantly, how those areas intersect. Obviously those…
Read MoreOn Forgiveness, When No Forgiveness Is Possible
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Jesus is Nailed To the Cross I began this series with a story about a really bad roommate situation. The last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about that situation, and realizing what a grudge I still hold. It’s a little ridiculous, truth be told. That all…
Read MoreStripped of Humanity
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Jesus is Stripped Of His Clothes The first summer I worked with my dad on the farm, we were also preparing for my sister’s wedding. One morning my mother came out of her room and grabbed me by the arms with a vaguely wild look in her…
Read MoreGrief
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem There are times when I want to reach into the Gospels and shake Jesus. It’s not all his fault, of course. Some of the blame lies with the evangelists–these guys were not telling a complete story, only the highlights. No story makes…
Read MoreVeronica
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Veronica Wipes The Face of Jesus One thing about growing up on a farm with three siblings is this: there’s always some sort of vehicle available, but that doesn’t mean it’s in great shape. Cars get really beat up and gunked up when they spend that much time…
Read MoreBackup
At the end of November 2011 I learned two terms I’d never heard before: “irritable uterus” and “wimpy white boy.” Irritable uterus leads to 37-week C section. 37-week C section leads to “wimpy white boy” spending ten days in the special care nursery two hours away from home. Ten days in the special care nursery…
Read MoreMeeting Mommy
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross Jesus Meets His Mother Does anyone actually say “This hurts me more than it hurts you”? I have to admit I have my doubts. I certainly never heard it except in a Bill Cosby routine. I can’t help thinking that’s one of those “elder” tales that everyone learns…
Read MoreFallen
Reflections on the Stations of the Cross: Jesus Falls Sunday morning, 8:35 a.m. The family hurrying to and fro, getting coats on to get to church for choir warmup. Nicholas didn’t like the side of his reversible coat that was facing out. He wanted me to change it. I was trying to show him how…
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Reflections on the Stations of the Cross The First Station: Jesus is condemned to Death My first year of grad school I lived in a residential complex for upperclass and graduate students. Essentially they were apartments in a residence hall. There were five of us in a three-bedroom apartment. We met at the start of…
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Kathleen M. Basi 