The Second Station of the Cross: A Mercy Reflection

“When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He willingly stretched out His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, placed it on His bruised shoulders, and, though nearly exhausted, He joyfully carried it.” “The Second Station - Jesus is made to carry His Cross,” from Meditations on the Way of the Cross by Saint Francis of Assisi

Although I hadn’t really thought about it until I started writing this reflection, I realize now how strongly I have been influenced by years of experiencing Franciscan meditations during Lenten Stations of the Cross devotions.

My reflections on the Second Station of the Cross is a case in point.

When I think of the words that correspond with the image that signifies this station, I think of the words: “Jesus Accepts His Cross with Love.”

In trying to substantiate the origin of that verbiage, which is the basis for this reflection, I discovered that it is St. Francis of Assisi’s Meditation which includes four key aspects, italicized below, that has informed my understanding.

“When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He willingly stretched out His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, placed it on His bruised shoulders, and, though nearly exhausted, He joyfully carried it.”

First, Jesus willingly accepted His Cross.

Second, He lovingly embraced it.

Third, He tenderly kissed it.

Fourth, He joyfully carried it.

Imagine! No one/no group--not the Romans, nor the Jews--no one could have forced Jesus, Who is God, to accept His Cross against His Will. To show His Merciful Love, in obedience to His Father’s Will, He Willingly accepted His Cross for our salvation.

As described by St. Francis, who united himself in a most special way to Jesus’ Passion, Jesus’ actions (italicized above) show us that He accepted His cross wholeheartedly. Not begrudgingly, not complaining, not with a body language of disdain. No, Jesus embraced His Cross, kissed it, and joyfully carried it. …And that’s not all…

“When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He willingly stretched out His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, placed it on His bruised shoulders, and, though nearly exhausted, He joyfully carried it.”

Although Jesus is True God, He also is True Man. Accepting the Cross cost Him physically because of His bleeding arms, bruised shoulders, and near exhaustion.

In view of His unimaginable pain, Jesus' Willing, loving, tender, joyful acceptance of the Cross is an even more remarkable statement of Our Savior's Loving Mercy toward us.

As we think about this Second Station of the Cross, seeing Jesus accepting His Cross, starting on His Way of the Cross toward Golgotha, what words of Jesus’ come to mind that speak to us as we journey toward Heaven?

"...whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38)

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

The directive couldn’t be any clearer, could it?

And yet….How often do we protest that our particular cross is too heavy? It is at such times that I like to think about two “stories” I’ve heard many times—you likely have heard them, too!

Story one. God allows someone who’s complained that his cross is too heavy to go into a cross warehouse to select the cross he would like for himself. After trying on a number of crosses, he finds one that is just right…only to discover it’s the one he has been carrying all along.

Moral: God knows us best and graces us with the best cross for our salvation.

Story two. Someone who thought his cross was too big took a saw to shorten it, only to discover that when it was time to use the cross as a “bridge” across a stream, the cross wasn’t long enough to provide safe passage. (Fortunately, due to God’s Great Mercy, the person was permitted to go back to the carpenter’s shop to have the detached piece reattached, bringing his cross back to its original—necessary--size.)

Moral: We need our crosses to get us safely home to heaven.

This Mercy Lent and always, in this Second Station, given all that St. Francis describes, what does Jesus ask of us in the way we should carry our cross? What should be our will, our attitude, and our body language?

I don’t know about you, but the way Our Merciful Savior modeled taking up His Cross is super-challenging for me. And always, when a particular “cross” is removed, I regret having gone kicking and screaming behind the Lord, wasting the chance to have serenely trusted His Mercy.

Although there are thirteen other Stations to consider, I could spend a lifetime learning this one!

What are your Mercy experiences and reflections regarding the Second Station of the Cross, and how we should take up our cross to follow Jesus?

Thank you for sharing; may God bless you!