Lent II Mark 8:31-38. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

The Way of the Cross: Take time to wonder what difference it makes if you understand the following events with rational understanding, out of the Presence, or with spiritual understanding, in God's Presence.

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

When you are faced with a difficult situation

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus betrayed by Judas

When someone lets you down

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus condemned by the Sanhedrin

When the Church judges you

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus denied by Peter

When your best friend rejects you

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus condemned by the people

When others you did not expect would ever desert you

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus crowned with thorns and clothed in purple

When you are embarrassed and humiliated by others

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus carries the cross

When you are unjustly accused

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus assisted by Simon of Cyrene

When you can no longer go on

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

When others show hypocritical pity on you

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus is crucified

When you think of the most painful time in your life

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus speaks to the thief

When you are misunderstood and rejected

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus speaks to his mother

When you had to say good bye to a loved one

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus dies on the cross

When all hope is lost

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus is buried

When everything went wrong, nothing went right

What difference does it make

If you are out of the Presence

In the Presence

Jesus is raised from the dead

Resurrection is the difference between

Being out, in spiritual death, or

Being in the Life of the Spirit