Good Friday Reflection 1: "Woman, here is your son!"

The Crucifixion, El Greco, painted 1596-1600

It would seem that everyone else abandoned Jesus. There were some woman and the disciple, ‘the one whom Jesus loved’  who remained. How terrible it is to lose a child, especially through a government sponsored execution such as the crucifixion.  I wonder what Mary was thinking? Was she remembering the day that Jesus was born – that day when the angels sang, the rich and the poor gathered at his manger – the day God shone a heavenly spotlight on that night when, for a moment, all the world knew peace. Perhaps she  remembered the blessing of Simeon on Jesus' dedication day, “…For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” Luke 2:30-32. Could it be that Simeon’s troubling comment to Mary and Joseph was finally make sense to her? He said, “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:34, 2:35. Could this moment be sword that pierced the soul of Mary, the mother of Jesus?

Here, in this moment, when Mary was trying to understand all that had come to past, her son was thinking about her. In the midst of his suffering, his ridicule and his humiliation,  Jesus makes accommodations for his mother. “Woman, here is your son…”  It is hard to know who this ‘one’ is, the ‘one whom Jesus loved’, but it must have been someone Jesus could trust enough to protect his mother. He was, after all, the only disciple who remained – all the others had disappeared into the shadows of the night. “Here is your mother…” Here at the foot of cross, Jesus provided a safe place for his mother to remember the memories that she long ago, pondered in her heart. Even as he neared his last breath, Jesus was thinking of the people he loved and making sure that all the details of living were taken care of in these final hours. 

Where is your heart today? What,  in your life,  must you attend to in these days? The day is far spent, the night will soon come. What business remains unfinished for you? Will your faith be strong enough to endure the night? What about tomorrow? There is still time to attend to the things that remain unfinished. Even as Jesus hung dying on the cross, he attended to those whom he loved. He will attend to you too. Open your hearts and receive God’s grace, for God is still working miracles in our lives. May it be so with you today?

Prayer: 

God be present with me. Help me prioritize those things that matter and try not to be distracted by the things that do no matter. Help me through this dark and lonely day. Amen.