Is 52:13—53:12 Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Jn 18:1—19:42

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

As the holiest week of the Church’s year begins its climax today in the crucifixion and death of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, the possibility for where to take a reflection is endless. In the first reading we encounter the prophesy of Isaiah about the suffering and death of the Lamb of God. We learn of the offering that this Lamb has been turned into for the sake of our salvation. Then in the Gospel we witness as this prophesy comes true in the life of Jesus Christ. We recognize the weight of our sins on one man as he is tortured and killed for them. More than seeing what Jesus underwent for our souls, however, we also come face to face with the helplessness and pain of another within the Gospel. And that is Mary.

The acknowledgement of Mary at the foot of the cross is unique to John’s Gospel in that it is the only one to clearly state that Jesus’ mother was a witness to the death of her son on the cross. Through all the whipping, torment, mockery and eventually His death, Mary remained. The agony and sorrow that must have pierced her heart, just as Simeon had predicted, is inconceivable. Yet Mary never left her Son’s side. She never allowed Him to be alone in His pain. It is unimaginable to even try to understand the misery that Mary experienced as she watched her beloved Son beaten and stripped of all dignity.

And the horrendous part is that we did that to her. Our failings and our sins were the cause of her sorrow. We killed her Son and then made her watch it. Yet in her perfection, Mary has never held that against us. Just as she took John on as her child, she opens her heart up to each one of us. She loves us and is always gently holding our hand, pulling us closer into a relationship with her Son. She is the most beautiful example of Jesus’ love for us. For not only did He give His life for our sake, He has also given His mother.

And what a wonderful gift Mary is. She is the ultimate example of what it means to trust in God. Through her guidance, we can learn so much about following her Son and growing in a relationship with Him. She was the perfect disciple, and still is as she continues to intercede on our behalf and teach us about the love of God.