A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:33-35)
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 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.
From the cross, Jesus entrusts to Mary the maternal care of John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. By doing this, Jesus extends this gift from the cross to all people who believe and follow him. At the same time, he says to John: “Behold, your mother.” As Jesus entrusts his mother to the care of the beloved disciple, and by extension, to the care of the Church and all believers, he directs our gaze to divine love. The twofold charge to behold Mary Our Mother and to be beheld by her refers to a relationship like that between God the Father and Jesus his Son. John’s response exemplifies what our response should be to Jesus’ loving invitation: “And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son into the world—into the midst of evil, sin, and death—to save us from the darkness of sin and to destroy death through the death and resurrection of your Son. Thank you, Jesus, for the profound words you spoke as you were dying on the cross. You entrusted your mother to the disciple John and to all disciples, making her the spiritual mother of all Christians. Mary, Lady of Sorrows, you entered into the Passion of your Son, united with him at the foot of the cross. Pray for us sinners; teach me to love your Son as you love him. Mother of mercy, hear our prayers!
From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beneath the Cross of the Lord.”
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.
