Woman, Behold Your Son; Behold Your Mother

Reflection 3 on the seven last sayings of Christ focuses on Mary, his mother and John, the beloved standing at the foot of his cross. The Gospel of John recorded it in the 19th chapter.

"Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." (John

19:26-27).

The 19th chapter of John’s gospel records the brutality and crucifixion of Jesus. While on the cross, Jesus talks to two people that would play a vital role in the early church. The first is his mother. He tells her, “Woman, behold your mother.”

St. Jerome once said, “Death through Eve, life through Mary.” To understand this ancient wisdom, we must look back in the second book of Genesis. In the first part, we see what Adam and Eve do to bring sin and death into the world. Notice that God addressed Eve as woman after it was revealed that she succumbs to the snake’s suggestion to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. Later, she is given the title of mother of the living (Gen 3:20).

It was through Eve that death came into the world. Whereas, through Mary, life came into the world. Through Mary, she gave us Christ who is our way, truth, and life. St. Paul tells us, “Where sin abounded, grace superabounded” (Romans 5:20).

The second is to Beloved Disciple, John. Now, out of all his apostles, John was the one who has followed Jesu to Mount Calvary. He tells him, “Behold your mother.” When he said this, it did not mean him but all of us.

We are called to take Mary into our own homes. We are called to love and be loved by her. Mary offers her maternal care for all of humanity. She encourages the faithful to pray to her. We must welcome her into our own homes in our hearts while embracing her.

Allow Mary into your hearts while being embraced by her motherly affection.

Let us pray.

My dearest Mother and Queen, as you stood before the Cross of your Son, the one thing that drew your eyes from your Son was the invitation from Jesus to behold your new child in grace. I am that child, dear mother, and I thank you for the gaze of love you bestow upon me.

My dear Mother, I accept you into the home of my heart to be my spiritual mother in the order of grace. I accept you as my queen and seek your maternal care and guidance. Draw me to your divine Son, dear Mother, and pray for me that I may seek Him above all else in life.

My loving Lord Jesus, as You hung upon the Cross, Your deepest desire was the salvation of souls. From Your Cross, You look down upon me, a lowly sinner, and entrust Your own mother to me. I thank You for this unfathomable gift and I accept the maternal care of the Queen of the Universe and the Mother of All.

Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.