Tuesday, the Third Week of Lent

Fourth Station of the Cross – Jesus meets His Mother

   He is beaten, bloody and carrying the instrument of His death.  He has been condemned to die as a common criminal.  He is struggling to remain on His feet.  The Roman soldiers  prodded Him, pushed Him, beat Him.  To them He was just another criminal headed for a horrible death.  Just another Jew among the many they had crucified before and the many they would crucify after.

   He is the answer to the Jewish prayer for a Messiah; He is God in human form.  The angel Gabriel had told Mary of the child she would bear for the salvation of all, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  (Luke 1: 30-33).

   We look upon Jesus as our Lord and Savior; Mary also sees Him as her son.  The child who had nursed at her breast.  The little boy who had run to her for comfort when He had fallen and skinned His knees.  The Blessed Mother was there when Joseph died.  She and Jesus had shared the grief of the loss of a husband and father.

   Mary had been with Jesus throughout His ministry.  While most think only of the twelve apostles as part of His ministry there were many others who followed Him, including Mary.  She was with Him each step of the way.  She was a vital part of His mission.

   Can any parent look at their child when they are hurt and not do everything possible to comfort them?  Can any of us imagine the pain of seeing our child horribly beaten, bloody and near death?  How could we tolerate not being able to hold our child and do everything in our power to comfort them in such circumstances.  Yet, all Mary could do was follow Him through Jerusalem.  I cannot fathom the pain and agony she felt as their eyes met on His way to His death.

   Imagine the pain Jesus must have felt when He met His mother in the streets of Jerusalem.  The anguish of knowing that her heart was breaking for Him.  I suspect the pain He knew His mother suffered was far greater to Him than His own physical pain.

   I know that my sins contributed not only to Jesus’ pain and death, but also to the terrible heartache the Blessed Virgin endured.  I pray for mercy and forgiveness for the pain my failings have caused others.