Lent: Veronica and her act of love for Jesus

A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who wept and complained. Jesus turned to them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me; instead you cry for yourself and your children, because in fact the days are coming when people will say: "Blessed are the barren, the bellies that have never bored and the breast that has never nursed". At that time people will say to the mountains: "Cadici on you!" and on the hills, "Cover us!" because if these things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? "Luke 23: 27-31

Many holy women followed Jesus on the mount of Golgotha, observing and crying. Our Lord stopped on his way to Calvary and spoke to their hearts of the true horrors to come. He prophesied the evil that many would suffer and the sin that many would fall into. The death of Jesus is painful, yes. But the biggest tragedies are yet to come when the persecutions will burn so hard against the believers that the resulting fire will be like one fueled by the driest woods.

One of the holy women, Veronica, approached Jesus in silence. He took off a clean veil and wiped his bloody face thoroughly. This wordless act of love was received by Jesus with serenity. Posterity reciprocated Veronica's little act of charity by blessing and honoring her holy name forever.

While our Blessed Mother was standing before the Cross of her divine Son, she would meditate on the encounters that these holy women had with her Son. She would have been full of gratitude for the care and concern that these women had shown to Jesus and would have been touched by their compassionate tears.

But he would also reflect on Jesus' words: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me; instead you cry for yourself and your children. "Mother Maria would have really taken these words to heart. Although his heart was filled with a holy sorrow for the Crucifixion of his Son, his deepest pain was for those who would refuse the gift that his Son was offering them. She would have been deeply aware that the death of Jesus was meant for everyone, but that not everyone would accept the grace that flowed from His perfect sacrifice.

Mother Maria was aware that these holy women and their children would suffer later for their love for Jesus. They would be invited to participate in his cross in a more powerful way than the holy women did for the first time that Friday. in Jerusalem. As these women and their spiritual heirs began to receive the Eucharist after the resurrection of Jesus, and began to enter into a deep spiritual communion with him through prayer, they not only filled themselves with joy, but would also be forced to bring the Cross of discipleship.

Reflect today on a "consequence" of being a follower of Jesus. If you choose to follow Jesus, you will also be invited to share his suffering and death so that you can share his resurrection. Let your heart fill with the same compassion as these holy women. Direct that compassion to those caught in a life of sin. Cry for them. Pray for them. I love them. Also cry for those who suffer because of Christ. Let your tears be of holy pain like the tears that streaked the cheeks of our Blessed Mother and these holy women of Jerusalem.

My Sorrowful Mother, you watched as these holy women wept for the suffering of your Son. You saw the tears shed and the compassion they felt. Pray for me that I may also have holy tears as I see the suffering of the innocent and fill my heart with compassion and concern.

Loving mother, pray also that I may have a heart of pain for those who live in sin. Your Son died for everyone, but many did not accept his mercy. Let my sorrow for sin turn into tears of grace so that others can know your Son through me.

My merciful Lord, may you see your agony and death as the glorious means of salvation for the world. Fill my heart with real pain for those who do not open up to your love. May that pain become a means of grace and mercy for those who need it most.

My dear Mother, pray for me. Jesus I believe in you.