Praying the Stations of the Cross with St. Joseph
The Eighth Station - Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
Although the Gospels tell us that Jesus spoke from the cross seven times, they recall only once that he speaks carrying his cross to the place of execution. And it is to a group of women, weeping at the sight of the pitiable figure who struggles and stumbles beneath the weight of the cross as they stand amidst those who spew condemnations, mockery, and curses along the crowd-filled street.
There is much that we don’t know about these women. Were they followers of Jesus, weeping at the fate of their Master? Had they only recently heard him teaching in the Temple Square and liked what he said? Had they heard of how He had raised Lazarus from the dead and were filled with hope that this man would free them from the oppression of Rome, as well as their own personal oppressions - the illnesses that racked their bodies, the demons that tormented their souls. Or were they merely onlookers who just were sensitive enough to know that no one, guilty or innocent, deserved to be treated like this? And although we know the names of others who became players in this tragic sacred drama – Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Simon of Cyrene, Veronica – these women are nameless and known for only one reason – their hearts and their souls were moved, and their eyes wept the tears of compassion.
They choke on their tears and are unable to speak. Yet the one who chokes on the dirt of the road speaks to them. The one who was moved with compassion for those who came to him with eyes that could not see, ears that could not hear, limbs that could not walk, sores that would not heal, now shows compassion for hearts and dreams and hopes that are shattered. Shattered now and will be, even more so, in the future - “Do not weep for me,” He tells them. “Weep for yourselves and for your children.”
Who are these unnamed women who stand on the crossroad and weep? Perhaps we know them well. Perhaps they are us. And to them and to us, Jesus says, “Yes, weep. Weep for yourselves and for your children . . . And weep for all of God’s children who are hungry and who are thirsty, those who are strangers and those who are naked, those who are ill and those who are in prisons. Yes, weep for all those who are battered and bruised and broken in body and in spirit. Yes weep . . . show compassion of heart for them. For when you do for them, you do for me.”
Let us pray . . . St. Joseph, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn; they shall be comforted.” I am amazed that often, it seems to me, that those that mourn, are the very ones who give comfort . . . the ones whose prayers for themselves haven’t been answered in years, yet are the first ones who pray for others; those who scarcely have enough to get by on, but always seem to have something to give to someone else in need; the ones who always have a kind word for others, yet are the victims of lies, and gossip. and the judgement of others; those who weep for the pain and suffering of others, yet whose own bodies are in torment, and their hearts are breaking. It seems to me that this is who the women of Jerusalem met on the road carrying a cross. They offer tears for Him, yet it is He, despite his own pain and imminent death, who offers compassion and consolation to them. St. Joseph, help me to be a person for others as Jesus was.
St. Joseph, Solace of the Afflicted, pray for us.
