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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 6: Crowning \\u25fc\\ufe0e
Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
John 19:1\\u20133

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, \\u201cHail, King of the Jews!\\u201d and striking him on the face.
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When the soldiers place a crown on Jesus\\u2019 head and drape a robe over his shoulders, they do so in mockery. They twist these gestures of honor and turn them into acts of ridicule and shame.

Earlier in the week, a woman anointed Jesus\\u2019 head with oil, a sign of blessing. Later, after he is crucified, women will come to the tomb with spices, again to offer a blessing to his body.

Our bodies are sites of so much; often, we carry honor and shame in the same spaces, even at the same time.

Sometimes our bodies are sites of pleasure and delight; sometimes, they carry pain and suffering.

Like it was with Jesus, our bodies can be how we know blessing and how we know sorrow.

It is important to pause and recognize our bodies as sacred. It is important to honor them.

Take a deep breath in. Let it out slowly. Become aware of your own body.

What do you notice? Is there any part of you that feels strong? Is there any place in you experiencing pain? Linger where you need to.

Take another deep breath in. Let this one out slowly, too. Settle deeper into awareness of your body.

Place your hands on the part of your body you would like to bless: maybe your feet, for the journeys ahead; maybe your hands, for the work they will do; maybe on your head, for greater understanding; or over your heart, for healing of a hurt.

Give thanks for the gift that is your body.

Remember you are wonderfully made.
Remember God dwells in you and lives through you, too.