The First week

The Weeks of Lent

Reflection for Grades 7 and 8

Leader: Opening Prayer

Leader: The First Station –

Pilate Condemns Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All: Because by your Holy Cross,

you have redeemed the world.

Leader:

When Pilate saw he was not succeeding at all,… he took water and washed his hands.

All: “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves. (Matt.27:24)

Pilate - His Story

Leader: Let us pray:

All: Jesus, blind ambition is no stranger

in our lives.

Boys:

Without your help, we, like Pilate,

are capable of betraying the innocent.

Remind us that betraying the innocent

is betraying You.

Girls: May we never make others our scapegoats. Give us strength to say “No” to the group when we are pressured into being thoughtless and cruel to others.

All: May the voices of the crowd never overpower the quiet voice of our conscience. Amen.

Leader: The Second Station Jesus Accepts His Cross

We adore you, O Christ and we bless you

All: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Leader: “ I will have him beaten

and then release him,” said Pilate.

All: “But all together they shouted out,

‘Away with this man. Release Barabbas to us.’ ” (Luke 23:16, 18)

Barabbas - His Story -

Leader:Let us pray:

All: Lord, it is all too easy to let someone else take the rap when I am the one who is guilty.

Boys: You took the place of Barabbas, and you were innocent.

Girls: You took our place on that Cross. We are guilty of sin, not you!All: Jesus, how wonderful is your love for us! At this present moment, we gratefully accept your gift and sacrifice which has freed us from the prison of sin and offered us new life. Amen.

Reflection

Power of Your Love

Power of Your Love

Power of Your Love

Leader: The Third StationJesus Falls the First Time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All: Because by your holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Leader: Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus cruelly and they mocked him.

All:And after clothing him in royal purple, they took him back to Pilate. (Luke 23:11)

Herod - His Story

Leader: Let us pray:All:Jesus, you struggled under the weight of the Cross, and Herod called you a fool!

Boys: Jesus, you are nobody’s fool! You would not humor Herod.Girls:You did not take the easy way out. Help us carry our daily crosses with dignity and courage.

All: Be our strength in times of trouble, we ask you, Jesus.

Leader: The Fourth StationJesus Meets His Mother

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All: Because by your holy Cross you have

redeemed the world.

Leader:Your Mother and your relatives are standingoutside and they wish to see you.

All:Your Mother and your brothers and sistersare those who hear the word of God and act on it. (Luke 8, 20-21)

Mary, Mother of Jesus - Her Story

Reflection

Mary Did You Know

Leader: Let us pray:

Leader: Lord of all creation, we find is difficult to accept a world that includes violent,selfish and deceitful people.Boys:When it seems impossible to make sense out of the confusion of life, help us to do what Mary did.Girls:Help us to cling to our faith and trust in you.All:We affirm your mysterious plan for our world: that ultimatelygood will triumph over evil. Increase our faith, O God, in you.

Leader: Let us pray:

All: Father, Everyday I take a personal journey, and sometimes in my decision-making I face the cross. Sometimes I am confronted with decisions

to choose for or against your ways. Forgive the times I have done wrong.

Give me renewed strength to do what is right. Inspire me to be a witness to the power

of the resurrection and the power of hope in our world today. Amen.

Leader: The Fifth StationSimon Helps Jesus Carry the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All: Because by your Holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Leader: As they went out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon.

All: “…. This man they pressed into service to help Jesus carry his cross.” (Matt.27:32)

Simon – His Story

All: We, too, are often reluctant to help.

Boys: Sometimes we get angry and resent having to get involved.Girls: Sometimes we are just too busy to stop and look around us, and see other people’s needs.

All: Lord, open our hearts to the needs of those who suffer.

Leader: The Sixth StationVeronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All: Because by your holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Leader: “When did we see you a stranger and welcome you?”

All: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least of my brothers and sisters, you did it

for me.” (Matt. 25:38,40)

Veronica – Her Story

Reflection

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

YouTube - JESUS,Lover of my soul (it's all about You)

Leader: The Seventh StationJesus Falls the Second Time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All:

Because by your holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Leader: The Eighth StationJesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All:

Because by your holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Leader: The Ninth StationJesus Falls the Third Time

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All:

Because by your holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.

Leader: The Tenth Station Jesus Is Stripped of his Garments

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

All:

Because by your holy Cross

you have redeemed the world.