Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. "
Isaiah 53:2-3
He had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Reflection
Veronica boldly stepped out of the crowd to wipe Jesus’ face of blood and sweat. She wasn’t afraid to be seen with him. She didn’t care that he was the most hated man on earth that day. She noticed his need, and she went to him. Jesus was the same way. He made a habit of going out of this way to engage with people on the fringe of society–no matter who they were or what they were like. He never avoided people. He never ignored them. And he invites you to act in the same way. Who are those people in your life? And how might God be calling you to notice them today? I challenge you to think about these questions, and then go help others that are in need or are struggling. Regardless of what people might think, be like Veronica and go out of your way to help those people. Hebrews 6:10 says “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." When you help people that are in need, or are struggling, it's like when Veronica helped Jesus, and when Jesus helped and healed others. When you help others the way they did, you are closer to God then you could ever think.
Prayer:
O Lord, we marvel at Veronica’s compassion in running to You to wipe Your face at the moment of suffering. Help us to act swiftly and reach out to those who are suffering from addiction, homelessness, poverty, and mental or physical abuse. Help us to recognize and respond with compassion to the pain within our midst