Between the Hearts by Fr. Craig Giera
The Stations of the Cross has always been powerful for me. So, I walked with Jesus on his perilous journey as he carried the instrument of his torture, yet also the instrument of our salvation. Along the way there was a woman who spoke so plainly in the simple action she performed. In the sixth station of the cross Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. It was her way in which to adore, her way to contemplate the face of Jesus, her way to be rewarded since Jesus left her the beautiful imprint of his face to venerate. This is the call St. John Paul II writes so vividly about in his Apostolic Letter “At the Beginning of the New Millennium” (Novo Millennio Ineunte.) He states, “And is it not the Church’s task to reflect the light of Christ in every historical period, to make his face shine also before the generations of the new millennium? Our witness, however, would be hopelessly inadequate if we ourselves had not first contemplated his face.” We cannot bring Jesus to others without first really knowing him ourselves.
As one stares into the gaze of his beloved, so must every Christian muse on the face of Christ in order to grow in love and awareness. It is similar to an exchange of affection between lovers. As we spend time with Jesus the light of his glory radiates upon us. His light becomes our light. Yet, we are compelled to move on. To come back to the humble woman Veronica and the path that Jesus trod, one cannot simply sit on the road and never act. The image left behind is a sign that points to the Savior who continues down the path set forth by the Father. As we contemplate the face of Jesus we must follow him. We stand, we pick up our cross and do anything and everything to be near him. While we run in his direction the light of him whom we reflect is brought out into the darkened world. All our actions will then speak volumes since they are done in the pursuit of Jesus. Everyone is called to this type of holiness.
Holiness is found through various methods. St. John Paul II states, “[O]ur Christian communities must become genuine “schools” of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help, but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening, and ardent devotion until the heart truly “falls in love.” Primary importance is given to the Sunday Eucharist, along with the sacrament of Reconciliation, grace working though our lives, listening to the Word, and the proclamation of that Word from our mouths and by our actions. Having “The Love,” Jesus Christ, we are impelled to radiate that to the world. “Those who have come into genuine contact with Christ cannot keep him for themselves: they must proclaim him.”
Seeing the face of Christ in all our brothers and sisters, even those we might not like, enables us to grow in communion and live a spirituality of communion. Jesus says in Mark 9:37, after bringing a child into the disciple’s midst, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. ”Our actions to our community reflects our inner communion with Jesus as we are moved by love to serve our brothers and sisters, especially how we treat people in our daily lives, those we see every day. Our actions must be done out of love, or they will be empty and produce no fruit. Mission cannot be done without holiness. We are not a charity organization; we are the Church! Love must reign in our hearts.
Veronica’s simple act of wiping the face of Christ makes way for us to see clearly ourselves the countenance of our beloved Savior. As we become bathed in that light, we recognize that this light is for all. Jesus left us in the world to be his hands, his heart, his love, his reflection. Let us follow the example of Veronica by first adoring his sacred head, then move out toward others to bring relief to his suffering body by serving one another.
In Christ,
Fr. Craig
