The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40

This is a traditional station that is not mentioned in the Gospel accounts. Veronica approaches Jesus through the guards and the soldiers, risking punishment in order to offer Jesus comfort as He struggles on the road to Calvary. She takes a cloth, wipes His face, and is left with an impression of Jesus’ face on the cloth. Like we saw in the Fourth and Fifth Stations, there is blessing in giving small comforts along the way of suffering.

It is hard for many of us to be in the presence of suffering and death. Most of us have no idea what to do or what to say, so we avoid the situation altogether. May these stations remind us that it doesn’t matter what we do, it matters that we love. It doesn’t matter if our comfort comes in the form of just being present, actually helping to carry the burden, or wiping the sweat and blood from a brow. When we do that, we are left with the face of Jesus in our hands, knowing that we have served Him well.

How are you being called to love today?

If you’re just now jumping in, find the rest of the Stations of the Cross here.