By Bishop George Pallipparambil
Miao: Introduction
Leader: Human migration from place to place has been a life reality from the early history of human beings. Majority of the people who live in some parts of the world and claim it to be their homeland also will realize that their ancestors migrated from some parts of the globe, near or far away. They had many reasons for this migration. Inclement weather, shrinking of land due to increase in population, better opportunities for life in general and so on. Today, as the world talks about the global village and globalization, migration is a reality that is there to stay. No amount of talking or wishing can stop it. It is a pity that in spite of this realization, the proliferation of means of communication, modes of travel and access to learning opportunities, human mind in many cases has become narrow. People are not able to rise above what Tagore calls “narrow domestic walls” erected by cultural gaps, languages, tribalism, and even the finest in life, namely, religion which is supposed to transform mankind from being human to divine. One wonders how it is possible that today people can be persecuted and killed in the name of religion, caste, and on account of the social backgrounds.
The sufferings and humiliations that the migrants are exposed to today, make serious and God-oriented people wonder why such things happen and how human minds can sink so low. These unnecessary sufferings of the helpless migrants force everyone to raise one’s thoughts to Jesus. There, we too realize that He himself and his Mother and foster Father were migrants and underwent a lot of suffering – mental, psychological, social as well as economic. The strange rules that govern our institutions and public facilities often make one wonder whether Jesus, apparently, the son of a migrant, with no identity proof, mobile number or any of the tools necessary for acceptance today, would find a place in any one of them!
The corona crisis, or the pandemic covid 19 unraveled a new face of migration. Migrant workers and their miseries became a point of discussion but very little has been done to bring solace to their lives. Out of fear and uncertainty, many who were lucky to get back home, may not move out for a while, but the horrible living conditions and the hope of greener pastures will make them move once again.
The following is a reflection and prayer as well as a walk with Jesus along the path of hardship and rejection, pain and death. For many a migrant everything ends with death. He or she just disappears. Jesus refused to be so; he refused to be defeated by sin and death. Cruelty and pain only made him greater and not lesser. Suffering did not fill him with shame but they became a means of drawing others to life eternal. Persecution did not make him bitter. Instead he said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
First Station: Rejection of Mary by Joseph ( Mt 1:18-23)
Leader: Now the birth Jesus took place in this way. When his mother Mary has been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame decided to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”.
All: Jesus Lord, though, the promise was made to our first parents Adam and Eve, about your coining and defeating the power of the evil one. Joseph, not knowing what had conspired between the angel and the Virgin Mary, found it difficult to accept her. When he was made fully aware that it was you who were in the womb of Mary, he gladly accepted you and your Mother. Our world is full of fear and suspicion and they become the root cause of misery in families, societies and among nations. Fear and suspicion cause mistrust and disagreement and lead to rejection which brings about violence of all kinds. Our world is suffering from this. You know what it means. Help our world to look for the causes and learn the truth and not be led by prejudices and be victimized by fear and suspicion. As St. Francis prayed, make us all instruments of your peace, love, understanding and social order in every way.
All: Holy Mother, pierce through in my heart, each wound renewed of my Savior Crucified
All: We adore you O Christ, and we bless you, because, by your cross, you have redeemed the world.
Second Station: Joseph finds no room at the inn (Lk 2:1-7)
Lead: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in inn.
All: God our Father, homelessness is a sad and shameful reality that is haunting our world today and is on the rise day after day. The earth you placed us in has enough place and resources to shelter and feed everyone of us. But the mansions we construct, the mighty industrial settings we create, too often displace people and make them homeless. The experience that Joseph and Mary had in their own place – not finding a shelter for the night and for the birth of the promised Messiah – has also become the plight of many. Forgive our selfishness and forgive our abuse of the earth. Teach us wisdom, love and fill us with the desire to share and to reach out to our brothers and sisters as we are all your children. Fill us with the conviction that we are just passersby and not owners of the earth or anything in it.
Holy Mother..
We adore you..
Third Station: Jesus is born in a stable (Lk 2:6-15)
Leader And in that region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sing for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”.
All: Merciful Jesus, your birth was announced by the Prophets. The whole nation of Israel waited for you eagerly. But at your birth, no one ever knew you or celebrated your birth except the poor shepherds, the ordinary and most marginalized workers of the society, were told of it and they hastened to meet you. The foreigners, the wise men from the East followed. Blinded by the standards that we put up for ourselves and our surroundings, we become unaware of our neighbors, their troubles, problems and blessings they enjoy. Like the people in the palace of Herod, we live oblivious of our neighbors, concerned only about how to safeguard our own interests and let no one encroach into our privacy. Through your birth into this world as a helpless, poor baby, help us to be poor and to be concerned about others, to be involved in the daily struggles of the poor of God.
Holy Mother….
We adore you…
Fourth Station: Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15)
Leader: Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.
All: Jesus, Mary and Joseph had to flee for life; millions today are following their steps. Out of necessity and helplessness, they have to leave their homes, dear ones and all seek refuge elsewhere. For fear of life, with the hope for a better tomorrow and a safer world they leave their homeland. Their lands are taken away by industrial giants, their livelihood is snatched away by the powerful and they become homeless. The cruelty of the power-hungry, money-hungry, profit-hungry, displace and force millions from all over to flee their homelands. As you went through this humiliating and most frightening experience of life, intercede for all the poor people who are fleeing their homes because of the mercilessness of others. Be the hope and shelter of those in the rickety boats, on the perilous roads, and on the desert and snow-capped paths. This can end only when greed ends. Lord Jesus, just as you asked once; “will the son of man find any faith on earth, when he returns”, so too today you continue to ask us “will this greed ever end”!
Holy Mother…
We adore you
Fifth Station: Returns but stopped at Nazareth (Mt 2:19-23)
Leader: But when Herod died, behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled; “He shall be called a Nazarene”.
All: All provident God, often we fail to grasp your inscrutable designs for us in our lives. Just like Joseph and Mary, who returned to the land Israel basing themselves on the news of the death of Herod, we plan and act according to what we see or hear. We read “the signs of the times” and act but without really looking into your will and plan for us. When things go wrong, we writhe, we moan, we get discouraged, we question our faith, we question God. We do not stop to ask ourselves what is the plan of God or will of God for us. May we ever guided by the spirit of surrender to your will just as Mary and Joseph were able to accept your will, alter their plans and change their course with faith and serenity.
Holy Mother…
We adore you…
Sixth Station: Rejection at synagogue (Mk 6:1-4)
Leader: He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Josses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offence at him.
All: God our father, through the precious life, death and resurrection of Jesus, you made us your children. But sadly, we have invented too many distinguishing and divisive marks, creating difficulties and conflicts leading to misunderstandings, clashes and crushing experiences. Colour, ethnicity, educational qualifications, and other aspects of life distinguish us, one from another. We develop dislikes and prejudices and prefer to live by them rather than accept each other, see the good in the other and give a hearing to the other. “I am always right and they cannot be right” becomes an attitude in us and this causes rejection of others. Jesus, the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah of Israel became a victim of this rejection from his own people. Help us Lord to avoid prejudices and let love rule us and reign in our lives, in our homes, and in our societies.
Holy Mother…
We adore you
Seventh Station: Rejection by elders (Lk 11: 14-17)
Leader: Now as he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Be-elzebul, the prince of demons”; while others, to test him, sought from him a sing from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and house falls upon house……”
All: Generation gap and cultural gap are all phenomena that sadly impact the world. Jesus was the victim of that. He was the victim of misunderstanding and allegations from the moment of his conception. Joseph, not knowing the reality, being ready to put Mary away; Herod imagining that Jesus had come to usurp power tried to do away with him, The Pharisees rejected Jesus at every step and they became more and more hostile and inimical towards him However this only intensified his union with his heavenly Father. Now though they call him the prince of devil, he is not perturbed as he knew for sure that he was the son of God and that he was there to do carry out the Father’s will. Lord Jesus, we are often a confused lot whenever others accuse us falsely. Despite your assurance of your presence among us and your promise that the powers of hell will not overpower the Church, we are shaken up and we tend to give up easily or re-act negatively towards others. Help us to learn from this experience of yours that we are not made or unmade by others’ opinions but by your grace coupled with our efforts.
Holy Mother..
We adore you
Eighth Station: Kiss of Judas (MK 14: 43-47)
Leader: And immediately, as he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief Priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away safely”. And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, “Master”! and he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him.
All: Lord, this most known and talked about kiss in human history, has become so much part of life on this earth. Abuse of symbols of love, betrayal by the most unexpected people and infidelity from those whom we trusted most, too often become a cross that is too heavy to bear. Judas, whom you had called along with the eleven and entrusted with the administration of all temporal goods, chooses to kiss you as a sign for your captors. When we point fingers at those who seemingly betray us or breach our trust, we are quick to react, to be offended, to call down curses on them and to denounce them. Teach us to accept patiently all the negative experiences we have with others, so that we may be purified and be able to move happily forward. May we not forget what you have told us that we should take up our cross and follow you.
Holy Mother..
We adore you
Ninth Station: Betrayal by crowd (Mt 27:15-24)
Leader: Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” For, he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “have nothing to do with that righteous man, for, I have suffered much over him in a dream”. Now the chief Priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “which of the two do you want me to release for you?”And they said Barabbas. Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified”. And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified”.
All: Lord Jesus, more than any other human being on earth, you experienced betrayal and rejection. The crowds that sang Hosannas and had spread palm leaves and even their own shawls along your way a few days earlier stood now there demanding for Barabbas. The leaders wanted it that way and the people though had a different opinion of you, were not strong enough to express it. They were like us, forming the silent majority. We are aware of the injustices that fill our lives, our societies and the world but are too frightened to stand up or come out. After all, it is not happening to me or to my family. I hate it that way, but I do not dare to walk the correct path or take a just decision. This is the greatest sin of the world today and we are all sinners in that way. Forgive us Lord. Give us the wisdom and courage to stand up for what is right, for the poor and for the marginalized.
We adore you…
Holy Mother…
Tenth Station: Pilate gave Jesus over to be crucified (Mt. 27:11-14 and 24-27)
Leader: Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “You have said so”. But when he was accused by the chief Priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even a single charge, so that the governor wondered greatly. So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood, see to it yourselves”. And all the people answered, “His blood be upon us and our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
All: The conflict between good and evil and the inability to decide are problems as old as humanity itself. From the inability of our first parents to say an emphatic no to the cunningness of the serpent and the inability of Cain to say no to his pride and therefore slaughtered his brother Abel, to this day, we are haunted and afflicted by this malady. Pilate, invested with the greatest temporal power of his days, was a victim of this too. He knew that truth was standing on trial before him and that it was jealousy and hatred that brought his victim before him. But the fear of losing his chair, the fear of the wrath of the public led him to compromise, to betray and to sacrifice truth and put to death all principles of justice. Too often in our lives, we are confronted with situations like this which are of far less consequence, but we fear the loss of our reputation opinion; we fear losing the support of others, and end up in compromise or rejection of the truth. Give us courage Lord, like Paul to say, “for me to live is Christ and him crucified”.
Holy Mother..
We adore you..
Eleventh Station: Denial by Peter (Mk 14:66-72)
Leader: And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus”, but he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean”. And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began to say again to the bystanders, “This man is one of them”. But again, denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, “certainly, you are one of them, for you are a Galilean”. But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear. “I do not know this man of whom you speak”. And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times”. And he broke down and wept.
All: Lord Jesus, we tend to concentrate on the act of Peter’s denial of you. We easily forget your gentle, loving and forgiving gaze at Peter that prompted him to look into himself as he was and weep and mend his ways. We forget that it happens in our lives many times and we excuse them or explain them away as not denial but just saving the situation! We fail to understand what real repentance is. We know Lord, that the Church today needs not a mere confession but an effective repentance. For Peter, that was a full repentance and complete turnaround. Fill the Church Lord with the spirit of repentance and the courage to weep for our mistakes and to make amends and above all to begin a new life.
Holy Mother.
We adore you..
Twelfth Station: Simon of Cyrene (Lk 23:26)
Leader: And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
All: Jesus Master, all along your sojourn on earth, except for the hours you spent in silent dialogue with your father, you spent all your time with the people, interacting with them, healing, teaching and preaching. You lived among them. To the seekers who wanted to know where you lived, you were able to say, “Come and see”. To the others who came and asked, “are you the one who is to come or should we look for another”, you could boldly say, “go and tell John what you have seen …”. On this your last journey, none of the beneficiaries were there to offer you a moment of comfort. This simple farmer had to be forced by the soldiers to help. Give us a change of heart that we may become people who boldly acknowledge what we have received from God and from others and give it back to others and to the society as and when it is needed.
Holy Mother..
We adore you..
Thirteenth Station: The consoling women (Lk 23:27-28)
Leader: And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.
All: Self-pity, depression and the craving for appreciation and applause, Lord, have become the pathetic hallmarks of modern self-inflicted loneliness that pain a huge portion of humanity. It is in this tragic context that we see you going forward boldly carrying the cross right up to the point of execution on Calvary. Filled with genuine pity and heartfelt compassion, the pious women lined up along the street just to express their helplessness and pity. Without being emotional positively or negatively, you were able to go ahead, carrying out your Father’s will. You had a word caution for them, so that they would take care of themselves and their families and walk in God’s way. Bless the many, who in our world, especially in our Church are lost in self pity and wait for the others to improve their lot. Inspire us. Help us.
Holy Mother
We adore you..
Fourteenth Station: Crucifixion (Jn 19:17-22)
Leader: So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin and in Greek. The chief Priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, the King of the Jews, But ‘this man said, I am the king of the Jews’. Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written”.
All: Your death Lord, invoked so many re-actions in the people around. The thief on the left seized the opportunity to curse the authorities and to insult the system. He did not hesitate to insult you in his misery. The good thief instead, perceived goodness in you and cleared his way by an act of repentance. The Apostles, despite the protestations of love during the last meal, fled leaving you alone. John and your mother stood silently close to you, their hearts like dams filled with water ever ready to burst. The centurion saw in you the ‘son of God’, Pilate thought he saw the end of a drama but the Jewish leaders saw a possible threat. They were not willing to leave you even in death and so they appealed to the guards to ensure the security of the tomb! Very often Lord, we become like them, unwilling to forgive but desiring the annihilation, at least in thought, of those who differ from us. Teach us genuine forgiveness.
Holy Mother
We adore you
Fifteenth Station: Resurrection and Ascension (Jn 20:11-18)
Leader: But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept, stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus was lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “woman, why are you weeping?”. She said to them, “Because, they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him”. Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing but did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her; “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him; “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away”. Jesus said to her “Mary”. She turned and said to him in Hebrew, Rabboni” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her , “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your father, to my God and to your God”. Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “ I have seen the Lord”, and she told them that he had said these things to her.
All: Lord Jesus, at the start of your public ministry, Andrew met you and told his brother Peter that he had met you and invited him to come and meet you. Peter did. Now we have Mary of Magdala coming boldly to the Apostles and telling them “I have seen the Lord” and invited them to come and see. Peter and John followed her and had the experience of your resurrection. At your ascension you told us to “go and make disciples of all nations”. We have limited this to just preach. The world today has many preachers and visionaries. But hardly anyone like Andrew who told Peter, or Mary Magdalene who told the apostles, “I have seen the Lord”. We are preachers and performers but not having met you, we are not able to share with others a God-experience. Make us people who share our God experience and not God knowledge.
Holy Mother..
We adore you
Leader: We conclude this our way of the cross with the Lord and the people on the move looking for shelter, food, job, love and compassion with the determination that we shall do our best to be Jesus in today’s world. Where people are most in need, by praying for God’s reign in this world: OUR FATHER…
Leader: For the intention of the Holy Father: Our Father..Hail Mary..Glory be.