Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Scripture
“A large crowd of people followed him including women beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me, cry for yourselves and your children. Understand me. The days are surely coming when it will be said, “Happy are the barren, the wombs that are empty, the breasts that never fed.” At that time folks will say to the mountains, “Fall on us,” and to the hills, “Hide us.” Don’t you see? If they’re doing this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry'” (Luke 23:27-31)?
Meditation
As part of the crowd, in the public eye
I beat my fist against my chest in time
with the spoken words, the tragic pictures
out of shoulds and ought-tos, but when I’m home
I drop my mourners garb for cozy clothes
and sink into my chair thinking, “Well done.”
I have revealed my grief, shown my heart’s love
but kept the sadness from penetrating
and dulling what is such a lovely day.
Prayer
Wounded One, you know our hearts—nothing is hidden from you. Let us come to you open and admitting when our mourning is surface deep, when we do not dare let the sorrows that cause your heart to ache touch the stones beneath our breasts. Break our hearts as your Son’s was broken when betrayed by this world, when betrayed by me. We ask this so you may then turn our wailing into dancing. Amen.