Hi!

Since my last post sometime at the beginning of the holidays, things sorted out... and thank God. Eyes ahead to the trials.

Just been watching World Youth Day things on the television, a bit of Kevin Rudd's speech, yesterdays Pope welcome and today's 'stations of the cross';

1. Jesus institutes the Eucharist
2. Jesus prays in Gethsemane
3. Jesus before the Sanhedrin
4. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
5. Jesus carries the cross to Calvary
6. Jesus falls under the weight of the cross
7. Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene
8. Jesus meets the pious women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus is nailed on the cross
10. Jesus promises Heaven to the repentant thief
11. Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other
12. Jesus suffers and dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross, and is laid in the tomb
14. Jesus rises from the dead

It was really remarkable (stations of the cross). The feeling I get, is this desire just to get on my knees and worship God. Epic...amazing... journey that he took for us. Really spectacular performances from everybody. It's personally been encouraging how the teachings have been very Christ-centered. I can't even comprehend the mountains we can move if we combine together to live lives built on the Word of God.

Just to add to my observations and thoughts.

How come Jesus didn't rise again in the stations of the cross? I would've thought that was equally significant and important. Also, the repetition of the Lords Prayer about 14 times overall, at every station I suppose. With the addition of references to Mary; 'Holy mother of God... that bore Jesus... pray for us sinners'. I suppose those its very traditionalist, doctrine even. Nonetheless, 'religion' aside, repeating something 14 times is very very strange. I have never read nor head any biblical significance of Mary conveyed in the Bible. THE Bible, instituted by Constantine.

Andrew