Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Reading – Luke 23: 28-31
Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!” Then
‘“they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’”
For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
Reflection
Jesus tells the women to weep not for him, but for themselves and for their children. The women of Jerusalem loved and welcomed Jesus. The men who held power sentenced him to death. Even in his agony Jesus has compassion for the powerless, these women and their little ones. Pray for those who feel utterly powerless in their plight – how might we lift them up?
Prayer:
We adore you O Christ and we bless you,
Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.