2nd Church 2023 Lenten Reflections

 

The Week of March 12, 2023, The Third Word

 

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 whom he loved standing near, 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 to his own home. (John 19:25-27)

 

Jesus came into a world teeming with people and showed us how not to be alone. On the cross Jesus was working out the salvation of all of humanity. But he still had time and interest in individual relationships. He made certain that his disciple John was connected to his mother, Mary, and that she was connected to the disciple “who loved him.”

 

Despite His own pain, Jesus was concerned about the welfare of His mother and her pain. Because he cared so much for Mary’s future security and protection, Jesus entrusted John with her care. His beloved disciple. You could argue that this act at the cross was foundational in the Christian tenet of showing love for all. It may have been the beginning of Paul’s idea that in Christ there are no barriers, no walls, no differentiations. That’s why Paul taught the early churches that in Jesus, everyone had value and purpose.

 

Joseph, Mary’s husband, was already dead. According to Jewish belief, the eldest son was responsible to provide for his mother’s care if she became a widow. Typically, a dying son would commit his mother into the care of another member of his immediate family. In the case of Jesus, that would have been James, Jude, or another male sibling. By entrusting Mary to John’s care, Jesus was fulfilling His family responsibility as a devoted son. Jesus chose John out of a spiritual concern for His mother. Even in death, Christ was focused on what was best for her spirit, our spirits.