The Seventh Station: Jesus Is Laden with the Cross

Presider: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
All: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man called Barabbas was then In prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered, "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them In reply, "Then what [ do you want] me to do with [the man you call] the king of the Jews?" They shouted again, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:6-9, 11-13, 15) 

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BARABBAS
Call me Jesus Barabbas or whatever name you like. I was part of a rebellion against the Romans that failed miserably. My only success was to kill a few of them before they captured me. Jerusalem knew me-I was a hero In the eyes of many of my people. Now the Romans were going to make an example of me, a leader of zealots. It would be the slow torturous death of crucifix­Ion In typical Roman style. 
I was brought before a shouting crowd along with another prisoner: Jesus of Nazareth. Strange that we both had the same first name. Pilate was offering the crowd the choice of freeing Jesus the Nazarene or Jesus Barabbas. It was my lucky day. They shouted for my freedom and his death. Frankly, I didn't under­stand this Jesus of Nazareth. He had no passion, no hatred for the Romans. He acted like a docile sheep when they mocked him or spat In his face. This strange rabbi accepted the cross without a murmur, as If he was predestined to carry It. Well, I shouldn't com­plain. I became a free man, free to go underground again, awaiting the opportunity to drive the Romans from our land. Yes, I was there when Jesus of Nazareth took my place on the cross. How about you? Were you In the crowd that Friday? 
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PRESIDER: Let us pray .
ALL: Jesus, Barabbas was set free while you, the innocent one, were put to death for the sins of all. With grate­ful hearts, we pour out our thanks for the many gifts you have given us through the cross, espe­cially forgiveness of sin. Amen
Were you there when he bore the wooden cross? 
Were you there when he bore the wooden cross? 
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when he bore the wooden cross? 

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