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Jesus felt the abandonment of his disciples in the first station, now we hear Jesus crying out to God as he is experiencing God’s abandonment.
One can only imagine the deep pain Jesus is feeling. He not only is experiencing the excruciating physical pain of the crucifixion, but also the emotional pain of abandonment and even betrayal of friends, the rejection of the religious leaders, and the humiliation of abuse and denigration by the social and political authorities. Now maybe the most heart-wrenching, it appears he is having a crisis of faith as he cries out to God. This must have felt like the deepest sense of loneliness possible. Yet, he cries out anyway, which indicates he knows God is there and God will hear him. In our deepest times of despair, when we cry out in desperation, we are still acknowledging God is there and hears our prayers. This may be our deepest moment of trust.
We are reminded again what a gift commitment is and the security it can bring to us. Even in our deepest times of feeling alone we know we are not, for God’s grace is an unfailing commitment to love. The Twenty-third Psalm tells us that even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death God is with us. God is in the moment with us.
Thoughts to ponder:
When you feel this sense of abandonment, is there someone you can call out to?
How might we get through these most lonely of times?
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If this experience has raised questions or concerns and you would like to have further conversations, please email srpastor@doveofthedesert.com.
Stations of the Cross at Dove of the Desert UMC 