Words from the Cross – 3

“Woman, behold your son!…Behold your mother!” John 19:27

Jesus spoke for the third time on the cross. He had experienced the joy of seeing a new soul gained for the kingdom of heaven and now, as He looked at his dear mother at the foot of the cross with her eyes veiled by tears, He felt compassion. Mary’s soul was full of sorrow, her heart was weighed down with pain as she saw the fruit of her womb, her obedient, diligent son who had been a support and a consolation to her, her son whom she was proud of, hanging there like a criminal, and suffering the terrible pain of a slow and shameful death. She saw the privilege God had given her, an unworthy creature, to carry in her womb His Son.

She remembered the day the angel had appeared to her and had announced to her: “You will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31) She remembered when-they had to flee to Egypt due to Herodes’ decree to kill all children below two years of age. She remembered that her son had already suffered persecution since a tender age. To her memory also came her visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting, and what her cousin had told her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42) and her answer: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant” … (Luke 1:46,47)

She recalled that, after forty days that she had given birth to the Savior of the world, “they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. ” (Luke 2:22) and there they met Simon, who during his whole life had been ” waiting for the Consolation of Israel.” (Luke 2:25) He had taken the child in his arms and said something she did not completely understand: “Lord, now, you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word: for my eyes have seen your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles. and the glory of your people Israel. ” and turning to her had said: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel…a sword will pierce through your own soul…” (Luke 2:28-32,35)

Now she was experiencing the fulfillment of that prophecy in her own flesh. What a terrible pain to see her son hanging there, mocked, abandoned, deformed by the pain and the evil treatment he had received! At the same time that her guts were stirred with compassion and pain, her heart was getting cut through with the double edged sword, the Word that condemned her as a sinner. She thought of all her faults, her weaknesses, her failures, and she could see the Son of God, her Saviour, taking her place on the cross, and forgiving all her sins.

She remembered how helpful He was as a child, always aware of other people’s needs, affectionate, responsible, how He helped his father in the carpentry shop and H~ always found a way to help her with the house chores while His brothers mocked Him and criticized Him. He used to remain silent, unmovable, as if people’s opinions did not touch Him. She remembered with much pain that day in which they were coming back from Jerusalem where they had gone to take part in the celebration of the Passover and on the way back, as they were talking of trivial things having forgotten the solemnity of the ceremony and its symbolism, they lost Jesus and could only find Him after three days standing before the doctors of the law, a twelve year old boy, speaking with the authority of an adult, full of divine grace and wisdom.

How enigmatic had so many times been the behaviour of her son when she forgot the miraculous way she had conceived him and saw Him only as her son!

She remembered that day when He left home not to come ever again to dwell with them, but went to the banks of the Jordan river to be baptized by his cousin John whom he had never seen before; how the heavens opened up and a voice was heard declaring: “This is my beloved son in whom] am well pleased.” (Matthew 3: 1)) He was beginning His solemn mission on this earth, which would end there, where He was now, hanging on a cross, not as a failure, as many could maybe see it, but victoriously, because the enigmatic promise made already in Paradise to our first parents was being fulfilled: “] will put enmity between you and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed,. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel”) Gen 3:16. It was with this act that “the prince of this world”, (John 16:11) Satan, was judged, and would be definitely cast out of heaven. But Mary did not yet understand all this, absorbed in her thoughts she continued remembering scenes of her life. She remembered how after that solemn moment by the Jordan he had disappeared for 40 days and nobody knew where he was. She remembered how he had reappeared., skinny, emaciated, pale, weak, but firm, determined to action.

That joyful day in which her relatives in Cana had invited her to their daughter’s wedding also came to her memory and how He had also attended the celebration, followed by those simple young men who called Him Master. She saw how they looked at Him with admiration and respect and she felt proud of her son. When she heard that the wine had finished and the host was worried because he had nothing to offer his guests, she turned to Jesus and told him: “They have no wine” (John 2:3) meaning with this: “do something, I know you have a solution for everything”, and turning to the servants she told them: “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5) And the great miracle took place, the water was tuned into wine. And now, as she saw Him on the cross, she could see that miracle happening again, the Word, the refreshing water that comes from the leaving source, turning into blood with healing and purifying properties.

How many things she could remember and understand as she stood there, at the foot of the cross and observed the Saviour of the world hanging there, without saying a word! Then, He turned to her and said: “Woman, behold your son” behold your mother.” While she had been meditating about all these things, He had been thinking of her and He decided to entrust her to the care of His disciple; John, the one who reflected more of His character. The whole time he had been feeling her pain, her sorrow, considering the fact that she was a widow, not so young any longer, and that she needed someone to take care of her. He did not call His disciples and put them under her supervision, he did not tell them that now they had to worship her, that she would be the mediator between men and Him, but He saw her in her own magnitude, a mourning mother, a sinner, a weak woman who needed consolation, support, and He turned to the disciple who had absorbed the most of His grace, who was the most sensitive and told him: “Behold, your mother!” Now His heart was at peace. His beloved mother would be taken care of until she would be laid down in the tomb to rest until His coming in the clouds of heaven to resurrect her and give her eternal life.

May the Lord help us to see Jesus caring for us as He cared for His mother, and accept the person he has entrusted to us or to whom we have been entrusted, with thankful hearts.
Amen.

Theresa Corti Greece