Jesus at the Cross
Good Friday, April 5, 2012
Tortured, mocked, scourged
And now bearing His own Cross,
And now bearing His own Cross,
Jesus sees his mother.
With Mary, are her sister,
Mary, the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
His beloved disciple, John, is with them.
Mary, the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
His beloved disciple, John, is with them.
The dreaded appointed hour is at hand.
Jesus pauses.
In this poignant and significant moment,
He speaks to her.
In this poignant and significant moment,
He speaks to her.
“Mother, you know I have to go now.”
Then, with a glance indicating that he is referring to John,
Jesus says: “Mother, Here is your son.
He will take care of you, now, Mom."
Then, with a glance indicating that he is referring to John,
Jesus says: “Mother, Here is your son.
He will take care of you, now, Mom."
Turning then to his trusted friend, He says:
"John, take my mother.
Take her home and
Look after her as your own."
"John, take my mother.
Take her home and
Look after her as your own."
Can we even imagine being at that tortured moment,
Facing a horrible death
And yet, having the capacity to love so deeply
As to think of the needs of anyone else!
Facing a horrible death
And yet, having the capacity to love so deeply
As to think of the needs of anyone else!
His words to Mary served to reinforce her knowledge
That in going to the cross, he was living the will of God.
That in going to the cross, he was living the will of God.
And that he was not finished. No, he was about to be free,
Free, his future secure in his place with the father.
Free, his future secure in his place with the father.
How can we be free . . .
Free to offer such compassion and love
And be free, in the strength of our faith,
Free to offer such compassion and love
And be free, in the strength of our faith,
To trust in our own future with the Father?
- E. Richard Fortunato
