Veronica reaches out from the crowd to wipe the face of Jesus, which is a brave act of love, amidst the hostile crowd. She points to Jesus as a reminder that, when we reach out to others in need, we are reaching out to Him. The cloth becomes transparent as Christ’s face is imprinted on it.

“And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”
– Matthew 25:40 (NRSV)

Lord, as Veronica did, help me to reach across the invisible divide between “us” and “them”. Show me your face in the “other”, anguished. May a part of me be forever changed by my interaction with you-in-another.
Amen.

Revd Claudia Coustas

Chaplin