Passion Redoublé (8)

Sonnet/Station No. 8 - Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem.
As women weep, and try to understand
Just why this man must suffer as he does,
The Christ sees them--on quite the other hand--
To be the sad and pitiable ones.
So…“Daughters of Jerusalem” he says,
Then, “Do not weep for me, but for yourselves…”
Harsh words! (at least by some analysis)
Yet to such words, now, Jesus is compelled.
He speaks them here to say it’s not enough
To just lament life’s suffering everywhere,
While leaving social evils unrebuffed,
And from a distance, safely shedding tears.
The wood is green, but dread the day it’s dry…
A third time now Christ falls this Passiontide.