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Jesus Accepts His Cross
Minister: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by
your holy cross you have. redeemed the world.
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Then the
soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the
whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet
military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on
his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they
mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat upon him and took
the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him,
they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led
him off to crucify him (Mt 27:27-31). |
Jesus Continues to Carry the Cross:
There are almost 41,000 single mothers with children on Long Island. Many single
mothers live in poverty and, without sufficient help from the community, their
children can face a life of poverty. Consider "Linda," a teenager from
Levittown. Daughter of a severely depressed mother and abusive, alcoholic
father, Linda ran away from home at age 15 and became pregnant. Wanting to have
her baby, Linda was taken in by Catholic Charities' Regina Residence which gave
her shelter, counseling and support. Linda was also receiving welfare. With the
help of Regina Residence, Linda received her high school diploma and got a job
that paid only $10.00 an hour. The Regina staff wanted Linda to attend college.
But, when she turned 18, she no longer qualified for welfare. And, because of
limited government funding, she could not remain at Regina Residence. At age 18,
Linda and her baby were sent off, like Jesus, to carry the cross on their
own….And the cycle continues.
Our Response to Christ's Suffering
All: Lord Jesus, help us walk in your steps. Lord, grant us the wisdom to see
your suffering in Long Island children who are abandoned to lives of poverty.
May we share your compassion for teenage children who themselves have children
but are sometimes left to fend for themselves. |
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