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\\u25fc\\ufe0eJourney Stations of the Cross: Sunday, March 21 \\u2013 Sunday, April 4 \\u25fc\\ufe0e

Our Stations of the Cross experience will take us on a journey following the footsteps of Christ, immersing us in the biblical account of the last hours and days of Jesus' life. Take a few minutes each day to watch a short video and to respond and reflect. Connect with Jesus and prepare your heart as we head into Good Friday and Easter.

The following is the script from the video. You may also follow along using the downloadable reflection booklet.

\\u25fc\\ufe0e Station 10: Crucifixion\\u25fc\\ufe0e
Jesus is Crucified
Luke 23:33\\u201334

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, \\u201cFather, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.\\u201d And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
...

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
Can you imagine words more gentle?
More compassionate? More grace-filled?

Jesus speaks these words from the cross\\u2014one of the last things he says before he dies.
He speaks them not as excuse, not as denial, but as profound understanding: the people putting him to death do not really know what they are doing.
They are following orders.

Maybe they are grieving; maybe they are caught up in the crowd\\u2019s emotion; maybe they are confused by the conflicting stories about who Jesus is.

A promise or a threat?
A messiah or a menace?

The mechanisms of state violence demand action before understanding.

They crucify him. They do not know what they do.

There is much we also do not know: about ourselves, about each other, and especially about those we would consider strangers or even opponents.

Following Jesus\\u2019 model here is one way to orient ourselves with grace toward all we do not know.

So let\\u2019s join again in a time of confession.
I\\u2019ll speak a prompt and then leave some silence for you to offer your own prayers.

I\\u2019ll close each silence by saying, \\u201cGod, in your mercy\\u201d and you\\u2019re invited to respond by saying, \\u201cHear our prayers.\\u201d

Holy One, for where I have caused harm on my own,
I ask you to forgive me, and to help me forgive myself.
It is sometimes true of me like it was true of those in the story:
I do not know what I do\\u2026

God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

And Holy One, for where I have caused harm together with others,
I ask you to forgive us, and to help me forgive.
It is sometimes true of us like it was true of those in the story:
we do not know what we do\\u2026

God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

And Holy One, for where others have caused harm,
I ask you to forgive them, and to help me do the same.
It is sometimes true of them like it was true of those in the story:
they do not know what they do.

God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Amen.