Gospel: John 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.
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Reflection:
Can we comprehend the pain of Mary looking up to her son dying on the cross?
Mary went through this painful episode of her motherhood with dignity. Whatever
sorrow that she was feeling around that time she kept it as much as possible
within her.
She suffered in silence and in her suffering she surrendered everything
to God. Mary knew deep in her heart that this was the plan of God for her son
and for her as well. Mary trusted the will of God and surrendered everything to
God.
Jesus suffering and death on the cross of Calvary was not in vain it was
with a purpose and that is for the salvation of humanity. As we live in this
world we too will go through suffering and there would be instances that it
will be very hard for us to accept this suffering/s.
But if Jesus suffered and if Mary was pained seeing her son die a brutal
death who are we not to experience sufferings and pains? Life is never
complete without sufferings and pains. We have to go through these experiences
for us to live a complete and meaningful life in this world.
We have to go through these episodes so that we would have an awareness of the presence of God in our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas