Here Is Your Mother

 

John 19:25-34

 

New Living Translation

²⁵ Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”²⁹ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. ³⁰ When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. ³⁴ One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

On this Memorial of  The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, this Gospel passage seems more appropriate for Holy Week than for Ordinary Time.  But careful reading reveals its purpose:  First, Jesus gives Mary his mother to John, and to all of us believers, his community, his Church.  Secondly, the life blood of the Church is the blood of Jesus, his sacrificial offering of himself, even to death for our rebirth to new life. The presence of the Holy Spirit now animates the Church and enables her to carry on the mission of Jesus:  to live in harmony and peace with each other and to bring all of us home to our Father.  Mary, our Good Mother, you are especially close to all Marists, through your motherly love bring us home in God's good time.  

Bro. Rene