The Stations of the Cross, during Lent Copyright © Victor Weston 2011

I sit in Church near the station where
Jesus is speaking to the women of Jerusalem
I now have a twitterfriend in North Jerusalem
@SarahLear, a godfearing woman
she would not accept Jesus was her Messiah

Jesus asked “was it not foretold
the Messiah should suffer and enter into His glory?”
I went to Jerusalem as part of a pilgrimage
and walked the Via Doloroso - the way of the Cross
all christians carry their own cross

passing, praying, through these narrow angled passageways
through which he carried his cross
was evocative and out of time
businesses carrying on their trades regardless
of the group or their Jesus

The pilgrims knew Who he was, what he came to achieve
and were humbled in spirit;
on being told not to sing
approaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, because of Islam
an African sister’s voice was raised all joining her:

“when I survey the wondrous Cross”
entering the building where the Cross was discovered
where the Redeemer laid down his life for his friends,
pilgrims kissed the spot where the Cross had stood
the love poured out moving many to tears