Devotion for today: kindness amid chaos

Our next lady of the passion is St. Veronica. We are on the path to Calvary, and as we stand in the crowd, we see a woman perform an amazing act of kindness. This version of the Stations of the Cross is found at

http://www.diocesepb.org/prayers/stations/station06.htm. SIXTH STATION Veronica wipes the face of Jesus We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. For by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world. From the Book of the Prophet 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. From the Book of Psalms. 27:8-9 You have said, "Seek my face". My heart says to you, "Your face, Lord, do I seek". Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation. MEDITATION "Your face, Lord, do I seek. Hide not your face from me" (Ps 27:8-9). Veronica ­ (Bernice, in the Greek tradition) ­ embodies the universal yearning of the devout men and women of the Old Testament, the yearning of all believers to see the face of God. On Jesus' Way of the Cross, though, she at first did nothing more than perform an act of womanly kindness: she held out a facecloth to Jesus. She did not let herself be deterred by the brutality of the soldiers or the fear which gripped the disciples. She is the image of that good woman, who, amid turmoil and dismay, shows the courage born of goodness and does not allow her heart to be bewildered. "Blessed are the pure in heart", the Lord had said in his Sermon on the Mount, "for they shall see God" (Mt 5:8). At first, Veronica saw only a buffeted and pain-filled face. Yet her act of love impressed the true image of Jesus on her heart: on his human face, bloodied and bruised, she saw the face of God and his goodness, which accompanies us even in our deepest sorrows. Only with the heart can we see Jesus. Only love purifies us and gives us the ability to see. Only love enables us to recognize the God who is love itself. PRAYER Lord, grant us restless hearts, hearts which seek your face. Keep us from the blindness of heart which sees only the surface of things. Give us the simplicity and purity which allow us to recognize your presence in the world. When we are not able to accomplish great things, grant us the courage which is born of humility and goodness. Impress your face on our hearts. May we encounter you along the way and show your image to the world. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be My thoughts: In our week of almsgiving, let us be  Veronica to those around us. It was hard for her  to step out  in front of brutal Roman soldiers and  a jeering, mocking crowd. I don’t think she was  met with great admiration and applause; yet she dared to do what she knew in her heart was right.  Bringing comfort to those rejected by society is never easy, yet it is the right thing to do. Let us all  find our own way to cleanse the face of Jesus in  His people.