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One of the Holy Women from Jerusalem and her son see Jesus pass on His way to Calvary. Her son is about 5 years old.
Son: Why are we here? It’s noisy and hot. And there’s so many people….But why are you
crying, Mother? Did I do something wrong? Did someone hurt you?
Mother: No, son. But I am very sad. Do you remember last Sunday when we came here and saw the great prophet, Jesus, riding on a donkey into Jerusalem? People were praising Him and honoring Him with palms, and some of them even threw their cloaks on the road for the donkey to walk on. They treated Him like a King.
Son: Yes, I remember. You gave me a palm branch to wave. I still have it at home. But everyone was happy then. People were singing and shouting, “Hosanna to the King!” But today there are lots of Roman soldiers, and there’s no singing. And you and your friends are all crying. Why?
Mother: Because today the Romans have beaten Jesus, and they are taking Him to be crucified. You will see Him pass us soon.
Son: But why are they going to crucify Jesus? What did He do?
Mother: He spoke the truth. Some people don’t like the truth. They don’t want to hear it.
Son: Why? I want to hear the truth. You have taught me that I must always speak the truth.
Mother: Yes, always tell the truth, son.
Son: But if I tell the truth, will I have to be crucified too?
Mother: No! Of course not!
Son: I don’t understand. On Sunday everyone loved Jesus. They were happy. They called Him the Son of David. So what did He do that made them want to crucify Him? He must have done something very, very bad.
Mother: I think that some people are jealous of Him.
Son: But what did He DO?
Mother: He cured your uncle when he was sick, do you remember?
Son: Yes, but that was a very good thing, right?
Mother: A very goood thing!
Son: So Jesus didn’t do anything wrong?
Mother: No. He just spoke about God. He cured the sick and made miracles like all the great prophets of Israel. He was very kind.
Son: And they want to kill Him even though He did not do anything bad? That’s not fair! You told me the Romans crucify bad people.
Mother: Haven’t I always told you that life isn’t fair?
Son: Yes, but why? Good people are not supposed to be crucified! It’s not right!
Mother: Shh…here comes Jesus now. Can you see Him there? He’s behind all those Roman soldiers. (crying) Oh! His face is all bloody, and so are his clothes! They must have given Him a terrible beating. How horrible He looks!
Jesus is now passing the Holy Women and stops to talk with them. He sees the boy, who is terrified looking at Jesus’ bloody face, and clings, wide-eyed, to his mother’s tunic. Jesus looks gently at the child and says to him, barely audibly:
Remember me, son.
Jesus passes, trailing a phalanx of armed soldiers. The women are sobbing uncontrollably.
Son, panic rising in his little voice: What was that terrible thing on His head? It looked like ugly thorns. His face doesn’t even look like Jesus did when He was riding the donkey the other day. Why would the soldiers want to do that to Him?
Mother: They are cruel men. They enjoy hurting people, especially us Jews. Haven’t I always told you to be quiet and to act polite when the Romans are around? It’s because I don’t want them to hurt you or your father or anyone in the village.
Son: I hate the soldiers!
Mother: Shh..Be Quiet!
Son: But it isn’t fair! It isn’t fair! Why would God let that happen? You always told me God is good.
Mother: Yes, God is good. We don’t always understand what He is doing. We have to trust Him. That’s why we go to the Temple and pray.
Son: Why did Jesus tell me to remember Him? I don’t want to remember Him all bloody like that!.... My tummy hurts! I want to go home! I will get my palm and remember Jesus on His donkey, and I will sing the hymns we sang to Him on Sunday. I don’t want to think of Him all bloody!
Mother: No, it is a terrible, terrible thing. Let's go.
Son: It’s just not fair!
