In the Margins

When Jesus falls the second time we are reminded of how we fall as well. The first time we slip it is easier to get back up, it is when we repeatedly fall that the real struggle and pain ensue. Today we look at Psalm 38:6-22.

6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. 11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off. 12Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. 14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response. 15 For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.” 17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. 20 Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good. 21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

Veronica? Who was she? She is not mentioned in the bible, but has come to us through the Roman Catholic by an “approved cult”. Veronica is often used by people who oppose the stations of the cross as a reason that the stations should not be used, there is no real facts to prove that she existed, but the again there is no proof that she did not exist.

Veronica’s interaction with Jesus is different, there is no motherly obligation or political obligation like Simon’s. Veronica’s interaction is of free will. She steps forward to wipe his face. We are not sure why she does it. Kevin Scully in “Women on the Way” suggests two possibilities. The first that she acted on behalf of a group of people who had compassion for Jesus’ suffering, or secondly that she acted herself in defiance of the soldiers and populace (Scully 37). In either case “Veronica allows her singular compassion to be the victor” (Scully 37). Veronica offers the love, the compassion, the comfort, that Jesus repeatedly taught the people to show to the world.

So, today we pause and contemplate this interaction between Veronica, who reached out to Jesus, and Jesus who allowed his sweat and dirt to be wiped away. What does this interaction mean to the human story, and what does it mean to us?

Scully, Kevin. “Women on the Way: Meditations for Lent”. Triangle: London. 1998.

On this extra Sabbatical day. Help someone carry their cross.

Saint Symphorian church of Pfettisheim, Bas-Rhin, France

There are many paintings, icons and sculptures for the Stations of the Cross, however this one is my favourite. As a mother this captures my sense of being a Mom, helping our baby cope. The expressions on their faces, and the reaching arms captures a longing that I have not found in other works of art. Enjoy!

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. 

Because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you. The soldiers are interested in getting home, so they yell at you and try to get you up and moving again.

As a child, sometimes I start to do something, but then get tired of it. I hurry to get finished and sometimes don’t do my work well. Sometimes I don’t pay attention to what I should be doing. When things get hard for me, sometimes I give up.

As an adult, I sometimes put things off. I give up too easily, and sometimes don’t do my work as well as I know I can.

My Jesus, the heavy burden of my sins is on Thee, and bears Thee down beneath the cross. I loathe them, I detest them; I call on Thee to pardon them; may Thy grace aid me never more to commit them.

Amen.

(Prayer from ‘Catholic Online’)