21-May-18

Gospel 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.
Now since it was preparation day,
in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
Reflection:
"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary of Magdala."
As I read this verse, I sense the Marys feeling of helplessness. Standing at the foot of the cross there is nothing they can do.
I try to imagine: What if like Mary, it was "my" son?
There are times in life when, like the three Marys, there is nothing we can do except to be present.
The first, and perhaps the most important act of love, is to show up and share in the suffering.
"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."
As He prepared to die, Jesus' concern was not for Himself, but for His mother and those whom He loved.
How very human He was.
I have sat at the bedside of dying friends who would not give in to death because of concern for the welfare of those they were leaving behind.
Only hearing the words of their loved ones, "It's alright for you to let go. We are going to be fine" gave the dying person the peace they needed to let go and return to God.
"When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
"It is finished."
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Although grief stricken, the three Marys must have felt a surge of relief that Jesus' suffering had finally come to an end. And Jesus, as He breathed His last breath, must have rejoiced that His journey back home to Our Father was at hand at last.
"Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down."
I can't help but wonder at the motive of those who killed Him. Were they really concerned for the solemnity of the sabbath, or were they more concerned about removing from sight the shameful thing they had done?
"But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
and immediately Blood and water flowed out."
Two thousand years later, priests pour wine into the chalice and add a drop of water representing the joining of the Divine with humanity as they recite, "By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity."
By sharing in Christ's divinity, we are also called to share in His mission, to bring about a more peaceful, loving and forgiving world.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32