Woman, Behold your Son! … Behold your mother. (John 19:26-27)
The Word of Comfort
Lord Jesus you were brought out of the city a dangerous enemy they said, "You are not one of us. You do not belong here, be crucified!" You answered them, "This is your son … this is your mother." You said to them and you say to us - be a family, be a gift to each other, be one as the Father and I are one.
Jesus let me welcome others as your gift to me. Remove all fears from my heart and make it a home for all those who have no home. Turn all those I fear and push away into brothers and sisters. Give me a resurrection heart that I may love as you love. May I always offer words of comfort to others.
Scripture
I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:20-24)
Reflection
While the crowd mocked and jeered, it is good to know that there were those present who really cared. Jesus looked down and saw his mother standing near the Cross. By her side was the disciple John. This little group of friends furnished a striking contrast to the rest of the mocking crowd.
Try and read the thoughts and actions of Jesus’ mother’s heart. His disciples had deserted him, his friends had forsaken him, his nation had rejected him; and his enemies cried out for his blood. But his faithful mother stood there sorrowing at the foot of the Cross. Surely those nails pierced her heart just as much as they pierced his body.
