When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
John 19:26,27
Of all of the phrases uttered by our dying Lord, there are none so tender as these spoken to his mother and to his beloved disciple. This gesture seemed so important to Jesus that it seemed as if it had loomed as the last piece of unfinished business of his earthly life.
Some questions to bring to prayer this week include:
- How might this scene help you to care for the people whom you love in your life?
- Do you feel free to ask others for help? Are there certain circumstances or certain people that make it easier or more difficult to ask?
- How does this gospel scene impress you as an adult child? How does it touch you as a parent? Watch the news, read the paper, and recognize the faces of other parents who suffer because of their children’s suffering. Pray for them.
- How do you relate to Mary, the mother of Jesus? What example of encouragement does her life offer you? Pray the Hail Mary thoughtfully.
Second Week of Lent: The Third Word – “Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”