Woman
Who are you
To stand there so silently
As the crowd around you screams so loudly?
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
They shout.
But you do nothing.
Woman
Who are you
To flinch every time
The prisoner receives his lashes?
He deserves this.
Why can’t you see that?
Dry your eyes.
Woman
Who are you
To gasp in shock
At the size of the cross
This man has to carry?
Why do you care?
Get over it.
Woman
Who are you
To fall as the false prophet does?
He is weak.
You are healthy.
Get up.
Woman
Who are you
To dare break through
The crowd and touch this man?
As I rip you away,
I hear you whisper
“He is my only Son”
Woman,
Mother of this man
Why are you watching this?
Save yourself the agony
Of watching your son
Die for the crimes
He has committed.
Woman
I cannot take your weeping
“I NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP THIS MAN”
I shout.
This will be over soon.
I promise.
Woman
I have found a man
Who I will make help your son
Simon, a Cyrenian.
He will carry your son
On his journey to
Calvary.
Woman
I see the relief in your eyes
As the one called Veronica comes forward
Wiping the face of your son.
I cannot let her do this.
As I pull her away,
I’m sorry.
Woman
As your son falls the second time,
My patience wears thin.
“GET UP,” I shout
As I whip his legs.
And then,
I see your face.
Woman
I just want this day to be over with
I want your pain to end.
I’m sorry I have hurt you
By hurting your son.
It is my job.
Woman,
I see your loving look
As your son in all his agony
Takes time to comfort
The weeping women
Of Jerusalem.
Why?
Woman
As your son loses control of his cross
And falls to the ground,
completely crushed by it,
I see you fall too,
Sharing in your son’s pain.
Why did you come
Today?
Woman
As your son is stripped naked,
I see you reach out in sorrow for him.
I’m sorry.
This is part of the humiliation
Each prisoner
Sentenced to death on the cross
Is subjected to.
Woman,
Why do you submit yourself
To your son’s shame?
As he is nailed to the cross,
I hear you wail.
Each time the hammer
Drives the nail through
his bloody body,
you shudder.
Woman,
He is dead.
Your son
Is
No
More.
I’m sorry.
This had to happen.
It is the law.
Woman
Why has the sky gone black?
As your son exhaled his last breath
Why did he say
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”?
Was not his father Joseph
The carpenter?
Woman
Normally the body of the guilty one
hangs all day and night.
Joseph of Arimathea
Has requested
It sooner.
Woman
We are told to break the legs of those crucified,
So that they die quicker.
Your son is already dead.
So I pierce his heart
In order to save you
Some pain.
Woman
WHAT HAVE I DONE
Blood and water
Rushed forth from
Your son’s heart.
And the water and blood
From his side
Bathe my eyes,
My heart is opened.
Woman
TRULY YOUR SON
IS
THE SON OF GOD.
What have I done?
Forgive me.
Forgive me.
Please.
Woman,
I look at you, staring at your son.
In that moment, you turn to me,
With a solemn serenity mixed
With sorrow on your face,
And you say
“I forgive you, as does
My son.”
Woman
Let me give you your son.
Let me take God
Off the cross.
Hold him.
One last time.
Woman
As you go to bury your son,
You invite me to come along.
Me?
I have murdered God.
How could I go?
Woman
You beckon me.
“He did this for you.
To save you from your sins.
Come, and honor my Son,
Our Lord,
And know of his love
For you.”
Woman
As you lay your Son
In the tomb,
You almost seem happy.
Why?
I ask you this.
Woman
Your reply leaves me hopeful:
“He has gone from us,
For now.
He will be back,
Sooner than you think.”
Woman
It is the first day of the week.
Only three days
After Jesus
Moved on.
The tomb is empty.
CHRIST HAS WON!
Woman,
Help me.
May you always
Lead me
To Your Son.
Amen.
~Blessed//Broken\Given~ 