Dec. 27 ...“Woman, behold, your son."..."Behold your mother"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

John the Apostle recorded in his Gospel:

…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. (Jn 19: 26- 27)

Today on this second Feast-day after Christmas, I’m pondering both the words and a possible significance of the Church’s celebration of John’s Feast-day, so close to Christmas. As yesterday’s Feast of St. Stephen martyr, held significance for me, so does today’s feast of St. John “the disciple whom He loved”. John the Apostle was the only one of the 12 Apostles who was not martyred, so perhaps the Church in her liturgy places his Feast-day next because his witness is a more hidden martyrdom – much as Mary, the Mother of Jesus had a “hidden” role in Christ’s saving work.

The words of Jesus are very important. Today as I listened to them again, I realized I had spent more time in the past on Jesus words to John: “Behold your Mother”, than I had listened to the words of Jesus to Mary: “Woman, behold your son”. Today I pondered how John heard those words. Being a good Jew, John must have related the word “Woman” to Genesis and God’s Word in the Garden to the serpent:

…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel. To the woman he said: I will intensify your toil in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children…(Gen 3: 15-16)

John may not have understood all that he heard, at once, but he listened to Jesus – as John had learned to listen well! John certainly saw Mary’s suffering and could relate her suffering to Jesus’ suffering and bringing forth children. Perhaps he remembered also, in time, Jesus’ words recorded in Jn 15 about disciples “bearing fruit”. By God’s grace, John kept the words of Genesis and Jesus words on Calvary together in his heart. Like Mary, John learned to keep all Jesus said and did, pondering in his heart.

John lived for many more years but at the Cross, when John heard Jesus say, to him: “Behold your Mother” John obeyed immediately and took Mary into “into his own life”. This phrase is the translation, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI applied to the literal Greek words in which the Gospel was written. The more usual translation is John took her “into his home”. Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict always seem to me to go deeper than most theologians. I think they both studied theology on their knees!

May the Holy Spirit guide us into all the Truth of Jesus as He guided our Mother Mary and St. John the beloved disciple. May we listen to Jesus as Mary and John listened, with the ears of our hearts, and be willing to do the Truth we hear. Both Mary and John were truly “hidden martyrs of the heart” as they suffered for the sake of Jesus. May we learn to offer ourselves ever more totally to Jesus through Mary, our Mother and Model. May we learn to die with Christ in order to live in Him.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

John lived for many more years but at the Cross, when John heard Jesus say, to him: “Behold your Mother” John obeyed immediately and took Mary into “into his own life”. This phrase is the translation, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI applied to the literal Greek words in which the Gospel was written. The more usual translation is John took her “into his home”. Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict always seem to me to go deeper than most theologians. I think they both studied theology on their knees!

There is so much to ponder on in this paragraph.
I’ve made the Marian consecration twice, and I still struggle with the concept of entrustment.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Spyridon]

The original 1970 NAB NT words this wonderfully I think. I am coming to appreciate the dynamism of the 1970 NAB more and more, I think it’s a really underrated and underappreciated Bible. And considering a version of the 1970 NAB OT is used in the Roman Mass, the full 1970 NAB OT/NT are both used in the LOTH, and the 1970 NAB is also widely used Liturgically in Eastern Catholic Churches, I think it’s good for Catholics to understand and love it.

John 19:26b-27:

“Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, there is your son.” In turn he said to the disciple, “There is your mother.” From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care.”

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you also, for sharing your thoughts. Can you share a bit more on what it is that you struggle with in the concept of entrustment?

Is it your own entrustment into the care of Jesus and Mary that you struggle with or is it the entrustment of Mary to John in this scripture passage? I’d be grateful if you could clarify and enlarge on your struggle, if you wouldn’t mind doing so. Thanks.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, Spyridon, for your reply and thanks for the quote from the 1970 NAB NT translation. I agree with you. That translation words it wonderfully.

I do think perhaps Pope St. John Paul II, having consecrated himself as a young man, after reading St. Louis Marie de Montfort’s treatise on "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin" received a special insight on the passage. I read somewhere that he renewed his consecration daily.

It is one thing to take someone into your care, but quite another to take someone into your own life. As St. John Paul explained it: the Greek words were simply “into his own” but there was a certain implication that it was into “his own being” or “into his own life”. At least for me it was something I could identify with because De Montfort’s writing encourages me to keep growing in my relationship with Mary which continually brings me closer to Jesus. I believe St. John Paul II and St. John the Apostle experienced a closer relationship with Mary which brought them even closer to Christ.

Every soul is unique of course, as star differs from star, but while all saints love Mary, some saints seem to stand out in their love for and devotion to Mary which led them to love Jesus more and brought them to greater union with the Trinity.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Sure–meaning that I want to trust God, and in Mary’s intercession. And I have no problem with the idea on an intellectual level.
But I also like to be in charge.
So I’ll pray, but God isn’t answering my prayers the way i hoped, or not fast enough to suit me, and I’ll be all “okay, God, that’s real nice and all, but how’s about we try it this way…?”
Human weakness, in other words.
But life is a marathon and not a sprint .
God bless!

 

[Benadam]

MariaChristi, thank you for sharing

Jesus addressing His Blessed Mother as Woman, and that title recalling our first mother but not her Son’s, brings to mind our adoption having become orphans when our first parents died.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks again for your reply, and clarifying your struggle. The more I listen to Scripture and ponder the Word of God as Mary kept and pondered all Jesus said and did, the more I find myself by God’s Grace, depending on God more than on myself.

It isn’t easy to let go of our pride, but after all that is what it comes down to, isn’t it? We inherited that weakness from Adam and Eve – it is a consequence of original sin that we are more prone to pride than humility.

St. Louis de Montfort was a saint who pondered the Scriptures and his treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” also helps me to learn to let go of my “self love” in order to love God more as Mary did. His 33 days of preparation for Consecration enable me to “see” by faith, how we are called to holiness and how we need to strive by God’s Grace to become holy, as God is Holy.

God’s Word tells us, Jesus is our Way, our Truth and our Life, and yet we wander. If we ask for grace, however, He tells us we will receive; seek and we’ll find; knock and the door will open. (cf Mt. 7: 7-11). Yes, we are weak but He is strong and without Him we can do nothing. Let us be sober and watchful as St. Peter writes in his letter because the devil prowls around seeking whom he may devour. We need to resist him, steadfst in our faith.

Mary is given to John and to us that we may see how God works marvels in those who are humble. Thanks again, dear sister in Jesus and Mary. Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy.