Veronica Who? - Station 6

As we continue down the Via Dolorosa, we are introduced to a figure who somehow was not mentioned in the gospel accounts of the crucifixion.  Her name, Veronica, referred to as St. Veronica by some.  Whether or not if Veronica was passed down to us through oral tradition, or remained out of sight from the gospel writers, there is a lesson that we can learn from her. 

I'm sure you've had moments when your friends and family members were going through a major life changing event that only they could go through.  Even in your best efforts, you felt helpless, because there was nothing that you could do.  Even though there is very minimal that we can do in our minds to help, often times that is just what is needed at that time.  I imagine that Veronica felt the same way. 

 

Here we are with Jesus, on a dusty road, in late morning Middle Eastern heat, falling and stumbling along the way, and in some non-verbal way, encouraging our mother Mary, that everything would be okay.  We are grateful for the help of Simon of Cyrene.  Our vision is blurred by shouts of crucify him coming from the crowd and intermingled with looks of sheer hatred.  For a brief moment in time, Veronica interrupts our staggered agony and offers what she could.  Veronica wipes the face of our Lord, which is bloodied and covered with spit from scoffers.  Offering what little she had, Veronica provided a brief respite.  Her random act of kindness enabled her to share in Christs suffering.  His cross became her cross. 

At this point, Jesus is pretty beat up.  It would even be appropriate to call him a "hot mess."  The prophet Isaiah spoke of the appearance of Jesus during his final hours. "He had no beauty or majesty to atttract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low self esteem."  Isaiah 53:2-3.  The lesson in this is that even in Jesus' most gruesome moment, Veronica still managed to seek the face of God and comfort and console him as best she could.  Have you ever been able to stare at horrific events and still manage to see the face of God?

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, we tend to be attracted to things in which there is beauty, charm and desire.  Help us to be able to seek your face even in the ugliest of trials and situations.  Grant us the ability to use what we have to comfort the afflicted, as your servant Veronica did.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr