This episode is a repost of the Stations of the Cross meditations from Season one of the Betwixt Podcast. I’m reviving this series because we are in the midst of an incredibly liminal time on a global level. We are also in the season of Lent - the liminal time in the Church calendar where we journey 40 days with Jesus along the way of the cross. It’s called the season of Bright sadness - “bitter joy,” “joyful mourning,” of “affliction that leads to joy.”

As the Covid-19 pandemic and Lent intermingle, these words of Father John Breck feel all the more poignant.

Bright sadness, he said, may be the most powerful and important experience we can know. It brings to our mind and heart, in the most direct and personal way, the ultimate purpose of our life and the object or end of our most passionate desire. It reminds us of who we are, as beloved children of God, created in His image and invited to glorify and enjoy Him forever. That conflicted emotion of bright sadness is a blessed gift, bestowed by the God who loves us with a “love without limit.”

Because most of us are not able to physically go to a church or monastary to walk the stations of the cross this year, I hope that these mediations will serve as a beautiful companion to you as we draw closer to Easter. For the next two week, I’ll plan to post one station of the Cross each day. May they whisper in your ear the love of God who’s love is without limit.

Traditionally, Christians have walked the stations of the Cross during the last week of Lent known as Holy Week. And so, I’ve crafted a series of meditations for Holy Week which follow the stations of the cross. There are 14 stations, two per day. You can listen in your car on the way to and from work. Or one in the morning and one at night. Or you can simply just listen when you can.

Now, the beauty of podcasting is that you don’t have to listen at a certain time or place. And this is true of the stations of the cross as well. They can be walked any time - not just during Lent - so feel free to return to these meditations any time you feel that invitation toward the cross.

This is our invitation and so throughout the journey we will often conclude the meditations with the Beloved Prayer.

Together we say:

Jesus, you are the Beloved

Jesus, I am the Beloved

Jesus, we all are the Beloved.

Art: Stations of the Cross Artwork by Holly Leonard. Scripture reading by Cody Wood.

Music: Lee Rosevere: Under Suspicion;Kai Engle: Daedalus