Jesus walked the path of suffering alone. Almost all His friends ran away. Some betrayed Him. Some denied Him. Some just stood by and watched from afar. Few who knew Him offered a helping hand. Then came a stranger peering from the crowd named Veronica. She knew she could not let this holy man suffer without doing something. What can I, a poor peasant girl, do, her mind questioned. She wrestled with her mind? Her mind raced with answers, “No, Veronica, do not get involved. He might be a criminal or maybe even a traitor to the Jewish faith. What would others think? What would happen to you if you tried to aid Him in some way?“
She paused to process her thoughts, stopping dead I her tracks. As the man passed by, her heart looked with pity upon His face. Veronica could see one drop of blood drip from the crown of His head to the middle of His cheek. Veronica noticed a tear of sadness in the stranger’s eye. Her eyes stared towards Him with pity. She wanted to cover her eyes, but somehow she could not look away. Now her heart was throbbing. Her eyes filled with tears of compassion. Her eyes met with His. In that instant in that short glance, Veronica knew. She knew that He was not a traitor or a criminal. No not at all. She knew He was who He said He was. She knew that He would do what He said He would do. He was the Son of God who would rise from the dead. It was the Holy Spirit who quickened that truth to her. She knew that He was the fulfilment of the prophecy, “A virgin shall bear a son and He shall be called Son of God.“ She knew in the depth of her soul without a shadow of a doubt. He is God alone. Not only that but she knew He loved her. Veronica’s heart won out over her mind. She knew that she had to do something.
Veronica was no longer afraid, as she pushed her way thru the crowd. Stepping forward, she remembered the cloth, the family cloth, which was stuffed in her pocket. The very cloth that her mother had passed down to her. The same cloth that her grandmother had given to Veronica’s mother. This family cloth was not only an heirloom but also a symbol of compassion in Veronica’s family. This was the cloth that mama used to dry her tears when she was just a wee girl. It was the same cloth that mama handed over to Veronica last month on her wedding day. In fact, Veronica was sure that the cloth still held some of Veronica's wedding-day tears of joy on it, and a smudge of her favorite lipstick too. Veronica wanted to treasure those memories forever. She could not bring herself to wash the cloth. Oh not just yet, but maybe one day, before she passes the family cloth to her little girl; that is, if she had a daughter one day.
Veronica reached way down into her pocket where she had stuffed the family cloth. It wasn’t a very big cloth in size but large enough to show Jesus she cared. Now she knew exactly what to do with it. She pulling it out just as she reached Jesus. Veronica places a kiss upon the cloth, just like she saw her Mama do when she used it to wipe the tears off her face. Veronica tried to iron the cloth with her two hands as she stretched it out to the full extent. Then reaching up towards Jesus she began to wipe His blood covered face. She gently and carefully wiped the tears from His eyes. No words were exchanged but two hearts were joined for all eternity. It happened in an instant, in a twinkling of an eye, when His eyes meet hers and her eyes met His.
It was then that she knew. Jesus was calling her by name. Oh, it wasn’t a voice from heaven in an audible sound. No, it was knowingness in the stillness of her soul. Veronica knew that she was being called to be His disciple. Veronica would be His disciple of compassion. What is that burning in my heart, she wanted to ask? Before she even uttered a syllable, Veronica knew the answer. As she wiped the tears from Jesus’s eyes, Veronica eyes were being opened to see His face. She was touched with the grace of His love as Jesus whispered in her ear, “I love you, Veronica.“ It was at that moment that Veronica exchanged her heart of stone for His heart of love. It was as if time stood still and fast forwarded at the same instant. All of her questioning had ceased; she knew just what to do. Veronica‘s “Yes!” was the YES of surrender. It was total and complete. She now could hear with the ears of His heart. She could now see thru His eyes.
She would continue the work of compassion, laying down her life for others as Jesus did. She would follow in His footsteps. Her life was now no longer her own; she was His alone. Veronica, His willing vessel, would go where He wanted her to go. She would do what He told her to do. His death would bring her eternal life. Her life would carry His love to all she passed by. She would never forget this encounter with the living God; when His eyes met hers and her eyes met His. It was at that moment that they shared one heart; a heart for God alone.
Veronica took the cloth from her pocket once again. She was about to use it to dry her own tears, which flowed freely from both of her eyes at once. She was so overcome with emotion. As she stretched out the cloth to its full extent, she could hardly believe her eyes. Oh, but it was true, the Man of God, He had not only left an imprint on her heart but on the family cloth as well. This cloth of compassion would continue to be passed down as an air loom in Veronica‘s family from generation, to generation. The family cloth would continue to dry tears and wash the sadness away. The family cloth would continue to be passed from mother to daughter and mother to daughter, generation after generation on their wedding day. The cloth would hold the brides' tears and the memories of that day, as they did not want to wash those tears away. The cloth would now pass down something more than acts of compassion. The cloth would pass down a living faith, an abiding love and a joy that will never end. You see hidden in the cloth was an imprint of a love which resides forevermore and is hidden in the soul. The cloth would always tell the story of meeting Jesus face to face. Once you encounter Him you are never the same again. The cloth would be passed down from generation to generation from mother to daughter and from mother to daughter until the end of time. The gift of compassion will always bring you face to face with God.
“I OFFER YOU MY NOTHINGNESS”
By Ellen Mongan
Jesus, I offer You myself today, in my nothingness.
As I begin a new day, let me live in You, for You, & through You.
I come as a beggar asking You Jesus, to use me as a vessel of Your love.
I seek You alone, please fill me with Your unending love, so I can pour it out on everyone I meet.
If You do not fill me, I will have nothing to give them.
Let me be the hands of Veronica today to wipe the face of a stranger, who is suffering,
Because that is what You did, Jesus!
Let me be Simeon to help shoulder someone’s Cross on my journey today,
Because that is what You did, Jesus!
Let me be hospitable like Martha, Mary and Lazarus to friends and to strangers alike today.
Because that is what You did, Jesus!
Let me give as the “widow’s mite” and not count the cost. Today may I give not only of my treasure but also, let me take the time to use my gifts to bless others today,
Because that is what You did, Jesus!
Let me always see another’s need as greater than my own today and every day,
Because that is what You did, Jesus!
Let me be Your disciple.
Let me be willing to tirelessly teach the faith in love to those who seek Your truth.
Because that is what You did, Jesus!
Let me be Your words of wisdom to the next generation. Let me reach out to them with motherly arms,
Because that is what Your Mother did, Jesus!
Let me be bold, yet gentle like Your servant Esther, if I come face to face with a Royal King, or a little child. Let me be kind and submissive, yet prudent like Your servant Abigail to the strangers along life’s journey. Let me be a woman of faith like Sarah, of patience like Elizabeth, and honoring like Ruth.
Most of all Jesus let me always completely surrender to Your plan for my life as the Blessed Mother did.
Give me eyes to see all I encounter thru Your eyes, because Your eyes are eyes of love and compassion.
Let me not miss the present moment to see You in each person I meet.
Since that moment may never come my way again, let me show them Your loving care,
Because that is what You would do, Jesus!
Give me ears to hear Your voice as I speak to each stranger or friend I meet today.
Give me the ability to take the time to listen between the lines as they speak.
Give me an understanding heart by listening intently since that conversation may never take place again,
Give me the self-control and patience to take the time now,
Because that is what You would do, Jesus!
Let me be Your hands today, Jesus, hands that willingly meet the needs of those You bring to me.
Give me hard working hands and a giving heart to serve them. I know this opportunity to serve them may not come my way ever again. So give me the grace to say, “Yes,” without any stress.
One thing I know, if You want me to serve them You will give me the grace I need.
You will also keep me in perfect peace, so help me to have a Servant’s heart,
Because You would do that, Jesus!
Let me open my heart wide today to love and be loved out of love for You.
Freely pour into my heart Your love and fill me to overflowing.
Let me not keep this love for myself, rather let me pour this love out on all I meet for I know I may not pass this way again,
Because You would do that, Jesus!
I am nothing without You and without You today I can do nothing good at all.
I begin this day empty of myself before You and to give You my willing, “Yes!”…I surrender to Your will.
I call upon You again to fill me with Your love because You are the source of love.
Let me love Your people today and be Your vessel of love.
Let me draw others to Your love.
Let me love others into the Kingdom.
“Here I am Lord I have come to do Your will today.”
My willingness and my nothingness is all I have to give You.
Jesus, I love You. Amen.
Works of Mercy
Corporal Spiritual
•To feed the hungry •To instruct the ignorant
•To give drink to the thirsty •To counsel the doubtful
•To clothe the naked •To admonish sinners
•To harbor the harborless •To bear wrongs patiently
•To visit the sick •To forgive offences willingly
•To ransom the captive •To comfort the afflicted
•To bury the dead •To pray for the living & the dead
IN THIS YEAR OF MERCY, GO AND DO THE SAME!
Copyright 2016 Ellen Mongan
About the Author
Ellen Mongan
Ellen Mongan hosts three podcasts: Wow Mom, Deacon & Dear, and Go Tell the World, found on YouTube or EllenMongan.com. Her books, “Wow Mom: A Walk with God,” “4 For the Mountaintop,” and “Who Will Wear the Crown” found on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Married 50 years to Deacon Patrick Mongan, M.D. Mother to 8, and Nana to 15.
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