CRUCIS SINGAPURA 2018

WALKING WITH PETER

The Word of God says that as the soldiers led Jesus to the High Priest, Peter
followed at a distance, closely watching the unfolding of the events (Mark 14:54).
He was curious to know what would happen to his Master but was also fearful of
facing the same fate.
Today, Peter invites you to join him as he recollects the events of the Lord’s
Passion – watching from a distance as our Lord goes through this immense
suffering!

Peter: You, my friend, are a beloved child of God! I know my Lord loves you too,
just as he loved me! He changed me, he changed my life! And he can do the same
for you.
I want to tell you about what happened that night…..I also want to tell you how
he changed someone like me, an illiterate and rash fisherman into his ‘rock’ on
which he built His Church. Won’t you come on a journey with me?!

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THE WAY OF THE CROSS
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Peter: They have arrested Jesus! They are taking him to the High Priest to be
judged. I am sure they will not be fair to him, he has done no wrong! He is being
ill-treated…..

This reminds me of an incident during my time with Jesus. One day, he called
James, John and me up to the high mountain to be alone. As we looked on, a
change came over Jesus; his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were
dazzling white. What a beautiful sight it was!! We even saw two more men, whom
we realized were Moses and Elijah, speaking to him. We were so frightened that
we did not know what to say. The Law, the Prophet and the Messiah! This would
be a perfect place to make a tent for each one, so that they will be here forever!

Suddenly, a voice from the clouds said, ‘This is my own dear Son, with whom I am
well pleased – listen to him!’ Surprise, awe and fear - all at the same time. We fell
on the ground and covered our faces.
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This was a revelation, Jesus’ humanity was transformed to reveal the glory of His
Divinity…Yes, He is indeed the Son of God!
We talked about how Elijah was mistreated by the people, and he said ‘in the
same way, they will also ill-treat the Son of Man’. (Mat 17:1-12), (Mark 9:2-12)

Look, what he said is happening now! Innocent as he is, Jesus, the Son of Man is
being condemned to death! What has he ever done to deserve that fate! Yet, he
does not speak a word in protest.

FIRST STATION
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Response: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 15:12-13, 15

Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the
King of the Jews?" And they cried out again, "Crucify him." Pilate, wishing to
satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he
delivered him to be crucified.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you bore the harsh criticism from your own people because you knew
what the Father has promised for you in heaven. Help us also to always
remember that all suffering and pain here on earth is temporary, until we join you
in eternity. Help us to forgive those who criticize us, those who fail to defend us
and those whom we have failed to defend in times of need. Amen
Our Father…..Hail Mary….Glory Be

ACTIVITY 2:
What is our reaction when we get ‘squeezed’ in life/ when we face trials and
accusations?
➔ Bring out the small pouch with pieces of sponge from the CS kit
➔ Put on the clear gloves provided on one hand
➔ Use water from the water bottle provided at the start of the walk
➔ Take any one piece of sponge and pour just enough water needed to
soak it. Squeeze the sponge between your fingers. What did you observe?
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➔ Do the same with the other piece of sponge. What was different?

If we have bad attitudes and negative thoughts, “the squeeze” will bring out angry
and hateful words and actions that do not bring God glory or honor.  However, if
we spend time being filled with His goodness and grace, “the squeeze” will bring
out fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience etc.

Think - Which sponge are you today?

Let’s ask God for the grace to be the clean sponge always; that we may absorb
only all things clean as well as ‘squeeze’ out only clean!

Meditate - Matt 7:17 - 'A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad
fruit'

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Peter: I was among the first followers of Jesus, and one among the special 12,
whom Jesus trained during his personal ministry. He certainly saw more in me
than just a blind follower; he saw the best in me, he saw what I could become.
I remember his teaching: ‘If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self,
carry his cross and follow me. For whosoever wants to save his own life will lose
it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’ (Matt 16:24, 25)

There goes Jesus, the Son of Man, carrying a heavy wooden cross on his
shoulders. He was a miracle worker, he could move mountains if he wanted to.
But this, he chose to carry his heavy cross, to carry my sins and shame on his
shoulders, in obedience to the will of the Father! He is willing to lose his life, for
the sake of his friends, including me who chose to run away and abandon him
when he needed our support the most. I am so ashamed of my sin…… What do
you see in me Lord? How can you still love me so?

SECOND STATION
JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Response: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
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A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 15:20

When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his
own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

Let us pray:
My dear Jesus, you willingly took up the cross to obey your Father's will. Teach me
Lord, to do the same, to accept and obey God's plan for me, a plan that gives me
hope and a future. I surrender my life completely into your hands, O Lord. Help
me to trust in you completely, accepting your will as mine. Give me a willing and
obedient heart, like that of Mother Mary, so that I may say 'Yes' to your will and
fulfil my purpose. Amen.

Psalm 51 - A prayer for forgiveness

O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful
stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be
pure again. For I admit my shameful deed - it haunts me day and night. It is
against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and
your sentence against me is just. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled
with clean thoughts and right desires. Don't toss me aside, banished forever from
your presence. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of
your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:1-12)

ACTIVITY 3:
How many times have we run away from our responsibilities because it was too
heavy a burden to carry?
Jesus chose to carry his heavy cross to fulfil his responsibility of saving us.

From today on, let’s try harder:

 To do what is expected of me
 To give no excuses whatsoever
 To always keep my promises
 To do the best I can always, everywhere
 And when I do something wrong, to admit it and make it right

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CRUCIS SINGAPURA 2018

Peter: I was a witness to the many miracles that Jesus had done, from healing the
sick to feeding five thousand. And after ministering to the people, he always
found time to be by himself and pray. (Matt 14:22-32)
Once, he instructed us to go to the other side of the lake while he prays by the
hill, and so we left. Later that night, there was a terrible storm and our boat was
tossing about on the high waves….but nothing scared us more than to see
someone walking on the water towards us. “It’s a ghost”, screamed my friends.
But we heard a familiar voice; Jesus’ voice – he said, “Don’t be afraid, it is I”

How could it be? No one can walk on water! And in such a storm, the wind was
enough to blow you away. And Jesus was walking?! Let him prove it, I thought! I
said to the voice, “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to
you”. And the voice said, “Come”.

There was something so reassuring and encouraging about the voice, maybe it is
the Lord! I am going to try it, I thought to myself! He is a miracle worker, isn’t he?
I have faith in Him; Yes, I trust my Lord. I will walk on water! My friends thought I
had lost my mind, because I was leaving the protection of the boat and jumping
into the stormy sea. But I knew, if it was really my Lord, I would be safe.
And so I leapt out of the boat and moved towards the shadow in the water. It was
no ghost, it was my Lord! I could see him!

Am I really walking on water? I looked down and thought, ‘the sea must be really
deep’….I looked around, the winds are so strong. Suddenly I felt paralyzed, fear
had come over me. I was going to sink and die, I thought. Oh, what a rash thing to
do!
I could think of only one person who could save me from certain death, and I
cried out to him - Save me Lord!’ Immediately I felt Jesus grabbing my arm, and I
was back safely on the boat.

I had stepped out in faith, but what happened?! Why did I doubt?

Jesus, who walked across the stormy sea, has fallen to the ground - because of
the weight of the cross, because of his wounds. All I could do was watch from
afar. There was no one around to grab his arm and lift him up, not even me.
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When I asked the Lord to prove himself, he made me walk on water. Now he asks
me for my loyalty, and all I can think of is running away to safety. I am guilty Lord!

THIRD STATION
JESUS FALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

Response: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 53:5

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon
him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.

Let us pray:
Loving Jesus, as you fall under the heavy burden of the cross, I am reminded of
the many times that I have fallen from grace, sometimes because of doubt and
sometimes lack of faith. Help me Lord, especially in times of trouble, to stay
focused on you alone. And when I do fall Jesus, grant me the grace to reach out to
you in faith and humility. Amen.

Let us profess our faith by praying the Apostles’ Creed together.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our
Lord……..

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The below mentioned activity is to be done at the designated booth only.
If you have not reached the booth location yet, you may continue praying the
Rosary or Divine Mercy prayers with your buddy while walking to the booth.
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ACTIVITY 4:

How focused on Jesus are you?

➔ Collect a ball from the volunteer at the booth

➔ Stand at least 3 feet apart. Pass the ball to your buddy and he must pass
it back to you. Repeat as many times
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➔ Take out the blindfold from your CS kit

➔ Take turns to put on the blindfold. Only one of you must wear it at a
time.
➔ The one who is not blindfolded must now throw the ball at the
blindfolded person. Was your buddy able to catch the ball?
➔ Next, the blindfolded one must throw the ball to the other person. Was
he able to catch the ball?
➔ Take turns to be the one who is blindfolded and repeat the above

When your eyes are on the ball, you can catch it easily. When you are blindfolded,
it may not be that easy.
Similarly, if you have your eyes fixed on Jesus, you can overcome life’s challenges.
But when we get blindfolded by distractions or sin, our eyes move away from the
Lord, and we may feel that the challenge is getting tougher to handle. Let’s try to
focus more on Jesus and less on our distractions.

Meditate: Hebrews 12:2 - Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith
depends from beginning to end.

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ONCE YOU HAVE FINISHED THE ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSED THE SUMMARY,
PLEASE GO BACK TO YOUR FACILITATOR FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

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