On this last Sunday of Lent we go back to the entry into Jerusalem before the Stations of the Cross began. This Sunday we are called to reflect on the Stations of the Cross as we celebrate the triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the palm branches wave and the shouts of hosanna. We are reminded of the steps of the journey that Jesus will walk in the coming week. Palm Sunday is a moment of a call to communal faith and courageous proclamation of our faith as we share together as a community of faith. The people who lined the streets were common folk who experienced a message so powerful, that people followed Jesus and celebrated that he was the one that they have been waiting for. We celebrate this moment, but know that soon the religious leaders will consider him an antagonist and the nemesis to their survival. We have spent Lenten walking the Stations of the Cross in preparation for the week ahead and while we spend this Sunday waving palm branches and celebrating we are to be reminded of the journey that is ahead of Jesus and each of us.

Jesus striped of his garments. Clothing gave a person their social position, a place in society. Jesus is public stripped meaning that he no long as anything, he is an outcast. Jesus takes on the position of a fallen man, and at the foot of the cross the soldiers divide his clothing, his possessions. He is mocked, ridiculed, scorned, stripped naked and hangs before the world baring all the blame for each of us, suffering for each of us. Some scholars suggest that casting lots could have been some type of sticks, flatter stones, a made dice, or something similar. The comparison most often used today would be to that of flipping a coin. For today, flipping a coin is often a way to settle a dispute without arguing, deciding what to do, and a way of keeping the peace between two or more interested parties. How much more humiliation can Jesus experience?

The stations of the women along the Via Dolorosa are not explicitly found in the gospels. When Jesus was dedicated in the temple as an infant Simone gave the prophecy to his parents (Luke 2:34) and Mary’s heart would be broken as she watched her son go to death, the death of a criminal. While a story about Veronica is not found in the Gospel there are a couple of interesting traditions associated with her station. One story is that Veronica was the woman who touched Jesus’ robe to be healed from her bleeding disorder. Another tradition says that a woman named Veronica saw Jesus stumbling under the weight of the cross and wiped his bloody face with her fail, the name Veronica means “true image.”

The stations of the women along the Via Dolorosa are not explicitly found in the gospels. When Jesus was dedicated in the temple as an infant Simone gave the prophecy to his parents (Luke 2:34) and Mary’s heart would be broken as she watched her son go to death, the death of a criminal. While a story about Veronica is not found in the Gospel there are a couple of interesting traditions associated with her station. One story is that Veronica was the woman who touched Jesus’ robe to be healed from her bleeding disorder. Another tradition says that a woman named Veronica saw Jesus stumbling under the weight of the cross and wiped his bloody face with her fail, the name Veronica means “true image.”

Among insult and mockery Jesus carries the weight of the cross as he sets forth on the path to Golgotha. Jesus, the strong and mighty savior is overtaken by the weight of the cross on his back and the weight of each of our sins. He falls carrying our weakness and our sufferings and when the load becomes too heavy Jesus is given the assistance needed by Simon of Cyrene passing by. As we explore the physical burden of the cross that weighs down Jesus we are invited to look at the burdens we each carry from day to day, what are the burdens weighing us down? Shame, fear, old habits, lack of a job, lack of trust, bitterness, anger, heaviness of debt or the loss of someone or something dear. Is there something weighing you down that you need to give to Jesus allowing Jesus to carry them for you? In these moments who has helped you carry the cross? What are the people in your life who help you make it through the tough times, the people who helped you through pain?And how can you help others to hold up the heavy burdens in their lives?

Jesus was condemned as an imposter, mocked and beaten and tied down with the weight of the cross to walk the journey to the place of the skull. Jesus takes up the Cross, a symbol of suffering. We each have a cross, a trial or affliction that is hard for us to bear. Jesus told his disciples to carry their cross and turn their lives over to him. We are asked to do the same in our lives. Jesus does not simply call us to believe, but to commit our lives to him, trust in him and follow him. Our cross, the burden of being human, the burden of the world and so he goes before us and points out to us the way which leads to true life. What is the cross that we take on as Christians?

Jesus was condemned as an imposter, mocked and beaten and tied down with the weight of the cross to walk the journey to the place of the skull. Jesus takes up the Cross, a symbol of suffering. We each have a cross, a trial or affliction that is hard for us to bear. Jesus told his disciples to carry their cross and turn their lives over to him. We are asked to do the same in our lives. Jesus does not simply call us to believe, but to commit our lives to him, trust in him and follow him. Our cross, the burden of being human, the burden of the world and so he goes before us and points out to us the way which leads to true life. What is the cross that we take on as Christians?

Pilate washed his hands of the guilt, he didn’t recognize who Jesus was and he chose to listen to the crowd rather than his own heart. He was afraid of what the people would do and was afraid of losing power and his position. What actions or lack of actions have we performed in our own lives condemning others or condemning Jesus? Have we allowed the actions of the crowd to dictate the response of our faith? Have we allowed our fear or desire for popularity of power to stop us from seeing Jesus or recognizing the needs of others? As we begin the Lenten journey through the stations we are invited to put ourselves in the story with the steps we walk with Christ. How are we walking with Jesus? And showing our faith in this journey, in the ways that we condemn ourselves or others. Pilate washed his hands of the fault, let us begin the journey washing our hands as an act of repentance and cleansing.

Pilate washed his hands of the guilt, he didn’t recognize who Jesus was and he chose to listen to the crowd rather than his own heart. He was afraid of what the people would do and was afraid of losing power and his position. What actions or lack of actions have we performed in our own lives condemning others or condemning Jesus? Have we allowed the actions of the crowd to dictate the response of our faith? Have we allowed our fear or desire for popularity of power to stop us from seeing Jesus or recognizing the needs of others? As we begin the Lenten journey through the stations we are invited to put ourselves in the story with the steps we walk with Christ. How are we walking with Jesus? And showing our faith in this journey, in the ways that we condemn ourselves or others. Pilate washed his hands of the fault, let us begin the journey washing our hands as an act of repentance and cleansing.

A caregiver sacrifices his or her time, energy, and love every day. The attributes of Christ, His mercy and compassion, are all critical to caregiving. While we can never measure up to His example perfectly, we should always remember that caregivers aren’t just doing good work—they are doing God’s work, exemplified in Christ.But it is often not an easy life change. The interplay of caregiving consequences: poverty, discrimination and stigma, lack of support from others, diminished social relationships, depression, emotional trauma, and poor or interrupted sleep are associated caregiver burden.For caregivers, depression is more common than you might think, and it’s a normal response to a difficult situation. It is not unusual for caregivers to develop mild or more serious depression as a result of the constant demands they face while providing care