This particular station points to the importance of women to the journey of Jesus. Veronica is not a Biblical reference, but somehow this act of a woman is too important to be dismissed. In this narrative she comes forth at the moment when Jesus needs her intervention, at that moment which gives scholars and Biblical interpreters much for discussion and debate. The weight of dust is heavy here.
Station 6 — His Face Washed by Veronica
The sweat salted his face, stung his eyes.
Beyond the pain he saw
the rocky ground
the crowd of friends and enemies,
those attracted by the spectacle,
and God, where was God…
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.”
Then he saw a woman among
the faces moving in and out of focus.
She reached toward him
holding up both hands to keep her balance
stretching to reach his face
her eyes hidden
by the cloth she held up to him –
cloth to absorb the sweat
cloth to bring the comfort of a touch
cloth to companion him on his journey.
