Behold Your Son: Behold Your Mother

The 3rd of the last 7 words of Jesus on the Holy Cross is found in John 19:26-27 which is, "Seeing her standing at the foot of the Cross next to his beloved disciple, John, he says, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then, to John, “Behold, your mother”

On that Cross at Calvary, Jesus was gasping for breath, his lungs would have ultimately been filled with bodily fluids! The only way in which He could take a good breath was by lifting His body by pushing up on the feet and by flexing the elbows and adducting the shoulders. However, Jesus pulled Himself up not to take a breath for Himself but to utter some of His final words, one of which includes the one mentioned above.

This proves that Jesus words were of unique and utmost importance. So, what did Jesus mean? Was it merely to ensure that somebody would take care of His mother's needs after His passing? No! He did for a specific purpose that goes way deeper than that.

According to Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, Jesus bestowed on her, "the full gift of her universal spiritual motherhood and mediation, which is a unique cooperation in Christ’s work of redemption and a sharing in his mediation. " In other words, Jesus gives Mary as Mother “to every single individual and all mankind.” She is Jesus' mother. She is your mother. She is my mother.

Just as we accept Jesus personally as our Lord and Master, let's accept Mary personally as our Mother. This Season of Lent we are called to prepare ourselves for Holy Week - His passion, death and ultimately; Resurrection! The only way in which we can experience the glory of His Resurrection is if we embrace all His sufferings even unto death on the Cross and the only way in which we can be faithful to Jesus even unto death on the Cross is if we be like John and Mary Magdalene who sticked to their Mama, Mary.

May Mary our Mother prepare us, intercede for us, and guide us every step of the way to Calvary as her beloved Son, our loving Lord and Savior lays His life down for us. Amen.

Totus Tuus Ego Sum!