Walking with the Crucified: Tired, but Not Broken

By Sunny Gudinho
National Coordinator, Jesus Youth India

Introduction

Before converging for the Jesus Youth International Conference, around seventy of us—a vibrant tapestry of five priests, three religious sisters, young couples, elders, families with little children, and youth—embarked on a grace-filled pilgrimage to Medjugorje.

On our second day together (13 October), we stood at the foot of Cross Mountain (Križevac). Personally, the morning greeted me with an exhausting cold and cough; every instinct urged me to stay behind and rest. Yet, stepping onto that rocky ascent, something shifted. I realized pilgrimage is never about our own self-sufficiency; it is about surrendering our frailty to grace.

As we ascended the rugged slope praying the Way of the Cross as one Jesus Youth family, the jagged stones, sharp turns, and steep inclines transformed into an open-air sanctuary of divine instruction.

Here are the five reflections born from that sacred climb:

Reflections from Cross Mountain

The climb was difficult:
hard rocks,
uneven ground,
slippery paths,
unbalanced steps,
and no clear view of what lay ahead.
But that difficulty itself became a lesson.

1. The road to heaven is not easy

The Way of the Cross reminded me that the journey to heaven is not a cakewalk. It is often steep, rough, and uncertain. We do not always see the next station or the final destination clearly. Yet we are called to walk step by step, learning from those who went before us.

2. The journey is communal

We are not meant to walk alone. Sometimes we must stop, wait, and walk with our family, friends, and loved ones. The journey needs patience, togetherness, and unity. God is truly present where hearts move together in one mission.

3. Leadership must be handed on

It was beautiful to see elders leading the young ones on the mountain. That became a living sign for our movement too. As Jesus Youth moves through this transition after 40 years, there is a need for:

• smooth handover of vision,
• accompaniment of the young,
• wisdom from the experienced,
• and trust between generations.

4. The stations call us to transform

Each station felt like a call to repent, to change, and to ask for grace to live in holiness. Reaching the top and arriving at the cross was not the end of the journey—it was the beginning of a changed life. We all took a different exit altogether, which itself was a sign of transformation.
Just like the Magi who encountered Christ and returned by a different way, we too are called to leave transformed. None of us should go back the same way we came.
That gives me hope—hope that I can be transformed every day.

5. Tired, but not broken

On Cross Mountain, we were tired, but not broken. That became a powerful lesson for me. Sometimes burnout, exhaustion, and weakness make us feel like giving up, but they do not have to stop us from loving our Creator—the One who created us and still walks with us.

There were three different groups praying the Way of the Cross, each with a different spirituality, yet all moving toward the same destination: Christ and Christ alone. That was a beautiful reminder that while our expressions may differ, our center remains one.

The Crucified Christ is the answer to all our questions. He carried all our burdens on His shoulders and reminded us that we are never carrying them alone. In Him, suffering is not meaningless, and tiredness is not the final word.

“We were tired, but not broken—because Christ carried what we could not.”

Walking with the Crucified: Tired, but Not Broken

By Sunny Gudinho

Medjugorje cross group picture