V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Do you think Veronica knew what she would do when she stepped out of the crowd to come to Christ as He carried the cross, His face disfigured by blood and grime? Why did she not hide behind the others, expecting someone else to do something if anything could be done?
Perhaps Christ Himself caught her eye. Perhaps she saw in that look such a longing for her love that she no longer cared what others would think and no longer cared what would happen if she stepped out. His love has given so many the courage to die as martyrs. It certainly would have been enough to compel her toward Him, His look answering the longing in her own heart.
When she reached Him, she must have wanted desperately to do something for Him. She had nothing to give Him, no way to save Him. Surely she must have felt powerless and hopeless in the face of such suffering.
Yet she did not let her powerlessness stop her. She took off her own veil to wipe His face. She did not lament the fact that she could not do more or that she could not remove His suffering, but she contented herself with making her own small act of love by wiping His face. With her love, she brought Him consolation and at the same time accepted the Providence of God and the sacrifice of Christ her Lord whom she could not yet have fully known.
She expected nothing in return, but He gave her the image of His face impressed upon her veil. What a great gift for so little!
Is it not so in our own lives as well? We have nothing to give. We are like the widow who can only give two pence. Yet when we give what we do have in all of our weakness we find that God repays us with unfathomable generosity.
How can He love us so much? And all He asks is that we love Him, thereby opening our hearts to His love...
No comments:
Post a Comment