From the Gospel acclamation: “O joyful Virgin, who gave birth to the Lord; O blessed Mother of the Church, who nurture in us the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ!”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 19:25-34)
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
At the crucifixion of Jesus, only a few stood by him at the cross. Among the ones present, John and Mary stand out because Jesus speaks to each of them. By the fullness of her participation in the suffering and death of Jesus and the role Jesus assigns her from the cross, Mary becomes not only the mother of Jesus but Our Mother, the Mother of the Church. Jesus says to Mary, “Woman, behold your son.” From that moment on, John takes Mary into his home. Through that exchange, Jesus invites us to go to Mary, our spiritual mother, to guide us to her Son and who intercedes for us to him. As Jesus is pierced by a lance, blood and water flow out of him immediately. Since the dawn of the Church, the blood and water flowing from Jesus’ side have been seen as symbols of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism. From the cross, Jesus poured out his mercy on us to the last. We have his real presence in the sacraments to see us through this life and the intercessory aid of Mary, our spiritual mother, to care for us and guide us.
God, help me recall throughout the day the scene at the foot of the cross. I have the last words of Jesus to John to ponder: “Behold, your mother.” As Jesus entrusts the care of Mary to John, he invites all believers to do the same. John takes Mary into her home from that time on; let John’s response to Jesus be mine. Mary becomes John’s spiritual mother, and by the same response to Jesus, Mary becomes my mother and I become part of a new spiritual family. Give me the grace, Lord, to have no hesitation to ask for Mary’s intercession every day and especially in times of suffering and anguish. Help me, Lord, remember Mary’s role in bringing me to your Son: “Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.