What's Your Jerusalem?

Who else has had such a lasting,  such an enduring 
effect on civilization ??
Of all the leaders? Royal figures?
All those names bolded in history texts...
Napoleon? Victoria?  Lincoln?
 All those  we know so well.... 
none hold a candle to the One who led by
kindness and  forgiveness, not by reprisal and arms.

From a distance  of 2000 years,
 it’s easy to forget the shouts of the crowds....
...... that it was not the weight of the cross
 but the weight of our sins that caused Jesus to fall.
 Not once, not twice….three times.

Was it a comfort to Him to know SOMEONE was heart broken? 
That some were there for him?

That despite the Romans’ shouting and torment and threats and beatings,
despite admonishments to not wipe His face,
 not help  Him, touch Him, offer water to Him…
that they were there?
Strong and unwavering in their support were 
these women of Jerusalem.

These women paved the way. 
They were the hands feet and heart of Jesus…
the last He spoke to before He died and the first when He rose.

This.
This is Feminine Genius. 

What a gift we have in them. 

When in your life have you been at the well….as Jesus was?  
What people, what situations have caused you in your life to say,
 “I have nothing left to give.”

When, in the past decade….the past year…..
heck, the past month?

When there’s nothing else left to do, what do we turn to? 
Prayer, of course.
As women, we are the vortex of the family crises 
as well as  family celebrations. 
 We’re used to taking the lead on the heavy emotional lifting.
 Just as the women of Jerusalem took the lead,
the Passion...gave the support.

<My youngest, as Jesus, in our parish living stations>

We've each lived challenging seasons.
Looking back do you wonder how you got through?
How many times you've leaned on the Faith
to simply survive, never mind thrive?
Have you had a  New Years Eve or five when you've said, 
"Oh Lord, let this year be better than last...please?
I just can't keep doing this."

< Crucifixion art > 

But you can and you do because.....

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the Father of compassion who comforts us in all our troubles,

 so that we can comfort those in any trouble. 

~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

We are our wounds.....

those women, without knowing, are our compass.

We move through the days, the years, the sometimes tough-times

and we know it's a gift....this life.

And whatever path we choose.

whatever vocation,  we are affirmed through our faith 

that we "can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

Thank the Lord for the  role models we have in them.

I'm linking to a couple of wonderful hops!
Please visit Allison's  and Laura's homes on the web  for some
Catholic inspiration and  ideas!

And by the way that book I mentioned above?

Best book on the topic, and written by a good friend of mine, too.😉

                                            

Thank you for spending some of your precious time today

here at my home on the web! 

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Until next time,

~Chris

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