Through Mary's Eyes

"Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdala."  John 19:25

Lent is a time for prayer and reflection on the passion and death of Jesus Christ.  During Holy Week, I find it helpful to contemplate our Lord's passion through the eyes of His mother.  Mary had a unique perspective on this event as it was not only her Savior, but her Son who was tortured and sacrificed for our sins.  Only a mother who has lost a child can understand what agony and pain our mother felt as she watched the events of that first Holy Week unfold.

Mary's sorrows began with the prophecy of Simeon, (Luke 2:22-35) "Then he looked upon Mary and said: And you, woman, a sword of sorrow will pierce your heart because of the suffering that shall befall your Child."  Here was a mother in love with her only Child and celebrating His presentation at the temple.  Her overwhelming joy quickly turned into sorrow as she recognized the truth in the prophetic words of Simeon.  He was her Child, yet He came for all mankind.  She would have not known how long she would have her Son with her before He would begin His mission which would ultimately lead to His death.

It was at the age of twelve that Jesus lovingly made His parents, Mary and Joseph, aware that He knew His purpose and His calling.  After searching for her lost Child, Mary most certainly would have been relieved and joyful at His finding.   Her happiness would have been short-lived as she recognized her Son's maturity and was reminded He had a higher purpose to fulfill.  Nothing is written again of Jesus until His ministry begins at the age of thirty.  Although Joseph had passed away prior to this, Mary treasured those thirty years spent with her only Child.  Every day was a gift.  She was His first love and teacher.  He was love itself and eventually became the teacher of all teachers.

The fourth Station of the Cross is my favorite: Jesus Meets His Mother.  In my mind I see a bloody and beaten Jesus with the heavy cross upon His shoulder catch the eyes of His mother.  Her eyes, I imagine, are red and  swollen from crying; her face grief-stricken.  As much as she trusted God's plan and adhered to His Will, still, she was in shock and disbelief at the treatment of her beloved Son.  Jesus knew what she was feeling and thinking.

In her messages to Father Gobbi, (not yet approved by Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith), on August 1, 1973, Mary spoke: "With what tenderness He surrounded me! He has always been within me; we grew up together in His hidden life, and in His public life; we were as one during His Passion and His death on the cross.  The sight of the sorrow of His Mother, who assisted Him in his atrocious agony shortened His life; more than His physical sufferings, his Heart-of-a-Son could not withstand this unspeakable agony.  "Mother!" was His last agonizing cry, the loud cry with which He expired on the cross."

Standing by the cross of Jesus was His mother.  No one loved Him more than she.  She brought Him into this world and she watched Him take His last breath.  

There is no greater way to show respect for Jesus' passion than to meditate on the sorrows of His mother.  By feeling her pain, we come so close to the heart of Jesus.  We stand at the cross with her and we hear our Lord say, "Behold your Mother".  She gave the world her son.  He gave the world His mother.  As His side and heart were pierced, so was her heart.  

O my Jesus, give me your heart because I want to love Our Lady as You have loved her. Amen.