Station VIII: Jesus meets the Women of Jerusalem

Most probably, it was the men that the Pharisees roused to join them in asking Pontius Pilate to sentence the Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified: men who were dissatisfied and disillusioned because the Christ or Messiah that they were expecting was more like a political King or a military ruler to lead them against foreign domination, such as Rome. 

The women were waiting along the way, mourning His impending death. They probably were among those who have witnessed the miracles and wonders that He did, or heard the wonderful things and stories that He spoke, or at least heard stories about these from others and, unlike the men, hoped that with Jesus Christ, there will be no more worry about wars, tribulations and man-made calamities for He spoke about peace, perseverance and blessings. But now He is to be crucified and their hopes have been lost.

But the Lord tells them not to cry for Him. Rather, they should cry for themselves and for their children.

Many times we feel so sad and we sympathize with people who experience calamities, loss of loved ones, or those who are slowly dying because of cancer, or those in great pain or discomfort due to some physical deformity or trouble, and the pain that we feel for these people gets doubled especially when we can do nothing to help them.

But we always have the opportunity to help. Maybe we can also spare something that we truly need and share them with those who have nothing. Maybe skipping one snack time or two could get us on the way to share some amount for those who have felt the horrors of calamities. Or we can at least pray sincerely if we do not have the material or physical means to extend help. 

Human beings do cry when affected by the sorrows and the pains of others. But we do not have to stop at crying. We must also do something so that others need not cry anymore, or if ever they shed a tear, it is because of joy. 

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