"Woman, behold your son .... son behold your mother."
The reflections on the first two words of the Last Seven Words of the Crucified Christ draw us to consider God's plan, God's ordering of our universe. We considered how sin wreaked its havoc on humanity in specific ways. Today, considering the third word, we encounter the experience of one particular person's relationship between herself, her Son and the human race. Theologians believe that Jesus' words to Mary and to St. John while he was dying on the cross we spoken not for them alone but for you and me, for all humankind. What was Jesus thinking when he spoke these words?
Jesus was attempting to arouse in our hearts "the expectation of belonging. Jesus, in caring for Mary's well-being after his death, is also his giving to all humanity his care for us not only in his redemptive death but the gift of his mother, one whose life was total surrender to the Father. Hence, in the English-speaking world we call the day of her Son's death "Good" Friday. At the foot of the Cross John learns first hand the reality of God's love for us.
We have come to believe that Mary is no ordinary woman. Quite the contrary. We believe she is not only the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, but also the mother of our Church because she "embodies the dearness, the holiness and the goodness" of her Son's gift of redemption to sinners.
Fr. Cisserio reminds his hearers that Origen, a Church Father of many centuries ago, wrote that we should remember that Mary "introduced us into the mystery of divine love that Jesus creates on the Cross." Could there be any other reason why we have to be careful not to divinize Jesus' mother?
We know that Mary's life was unique from the moment of her own conception, a reality verified by the angel, Gabriel, and his earth changing visit to Mary. The journey with her Son to the Calvary hill had to be made by Mary. She had to endure the fullness of her vocation, her mission to be the mother of the Redeemer. Her motherhood achieved its fullest maturity as she walked to the hilltop with Jesus. No other disciple, friend or relative could share Jesus' love and suffering as deeply as she did. It is our pride in this woman that she was ever the loyal, loving mother of her Son. Why else would we call her the mother of God and our mother as well?
We might consider this: it was the disobedience of Eve, her pride, her arrogance that caused havoc for God's plan. Yet, it was the obedience of Mary that repaired the Garden of Eden damage to humanity. The firsts Eve lacked faith, trust in God; the new Eve replaced that lacking by her complete trust in what God asked of her.
With Jesus' words to Mary, we witness the Son of God a new motherhood to Mary, her care for all of us. She immediately is given the role of helping her Son restore God's plan. She became for sinners the mediator of God's grace. For this reason the Church and her saints teach us that the best avenue to Jesus is through his mother.
Maternal love we experience in Mary is the embodiment of tenderness, compassion and sustenance. We have come to know these values in Mary's special role to protect us in our lives. Recall the many titles given to Mary in our Church, in so many nations throughout the world. Could any other reality be a strong sign of the countless way Mary continues her maternal care and love for you?
Jesus was attempting to arouse in our hearts "the expectation of belonging. Jesus, in caring for Mary's well-being after his death, is also his giving to all humanity his care for us not only in his redemptive death but the gift of his mother, one whose life was total surrender to the Father. Hence, in the English-speaking world we call the day of her Son's death "Good" Friday. At the foot of the Cross John learns first hand the reality of God's love for us.
We have come to believe that Mary is no ordinary woman. Quite the contrary. We believe she is not only the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, but also the mother of our Church because she "embodies the dearness, the holiness and the goodness" of her Son's gift of redemption to sinners.
Fr. Cisserio reminds his hearers that Origen, a Church Father of many centuries ago, wrote that we should remember that Mary "introduced us into the mystery of divine love that Jesus creates on the Cross." Could there be any other reason why we have to be careful not to divinize Jesus' mother?
We know that Mary's life was unique from the moment of her own conception, a reality verified by the angel, Gabriel, and his earth changing visit to Mary. The journey with her Son to the Calvary hill had to be made by Mary. She had to endure the fullness of her vocation, her mission to be the mother of the Redeemer. Her motherhood achieved its fullest maturity as she walked to the hilltop with Jesus. No other disciple, friend or relative could share Jesus' love and suffering as deeply as she did. It is our pride in this woman that she was ever the loyal, loving mother of her Son. Why else would we call her the mother of God and our mother as well?
We might consider this: it was the disobedience of Eve, her pride, her arrogance that caused havoc for God's plan. Yet, it was the obedience of Mary that repaired the Garden of Eden damage to humanity. The firsts Eve lacked faith, trust in God; the new Eve replaced that lacking by her complete trust in what God asked of her.
With Jesus' words to Mary, we witness the Son of God a new motherhood to Mary, her care for all of us. She immediately is given the role of helping her Son restore God's plan. She became for sinners the mediator of God's grace. For this reason the Church and her saints teach us that the best avenue to Jesus is through his mother.
Maternal love we experience in Mary is the embodiment of tenderness, compassion and sustenance. We have come to know these values in Mary's special role to protect us in our lives. Recall the many titles given to Mary in our Church, in so many nations throughout the world. Could any other reality be a strong sign of the countless way Mary continues her maternal care and love for you?
