Statement

Veronica is a woman who is found at the sixth station in the spiritual journey-prayer called the "Stations of the Cross" that is in practice among Catholics. (I had written a note about Veronica last year.)

Veronica is not directly mentioned in the Gospels. However, such a traditional story has existed since the time of the early Church.

Jesus is in his final journey towards Calvary, carrying the cross. Cross did not have the kind of glamour it has these days. The cross was the most despicable form of execution among the various punishments that existed in those days. Expressing the irrepressible hatred and disgust towards criminals has always been an expression of the hypocritical moral preventions of a mob. Therefore, even if they don't know what the actual crime is, everyone who sees a "criminal" would try to hit the person, or at least pick up a stone or a rotten tomato and throw at him! None of us would miss the opportunity to show that we are righteous ones. If we do not spit out at least a dirty word, we would think, then what is the point of living a man?! Even uncles and aunts are not very different at it.

In such a context, a woman stands out from the crowd. Her name is Veronica. She only has compassion. She has only empathy. She is now wiping the face of the criminal who is carrying the cross with her veil (until recently it was called a veil. These days people don't know what a veil is, so many people have recently changed the word to a trowel). Just try to imagine that scene. In most likelihood, she must have been a woman older than him. How can a woman wipe a man's face who is on the move with her head-veil? She can only wipe his face with her veil only by approaching him very close, putting her arm around his neck, and bringing her face very close to his. That is what she must have done. Most paintings show her kneeling and offering a handkerchief. It must have come from a recent devotional tradition.

Don't expect any drama. Everyone is not stunned and doing nothing. What would the background score like in such a situation? Some would poo-poo. Some would yell filth and nasty stuff. Some would make smutty comments about the "culprit".

Naturally.

She is the woman!

Did the cross of the one bearing the cross get removed because of her action?

No.

Did his execution get changed?

No way.

Isn't he walking towards his death again?

Of course, yes.

She doesn't talk politics, saying, "I know this man: he has done nothing wrong. Why are you trying to destroy him like this?"

And what did she do?

She just didn't hide her compassion under the fear of social rejection.

Still her act of kindness was a political statement.

A real political statement.

A political statement doesn't always have to be political.

But empathy is the only true political statement!