IV. Jesus meets His mother.
Behold the wood of the Cross…
Pause and hold your heart and the world in your hands.
This is what mothers do: They show up. They will be there for their children. They know that it won’t be easy; it will be excruciating. Who knows if she will be able to bear it? But this is what mothers do: They show up, and they stay.
Mary cranes her neck above the crowd, trying to catch her Son’s eye. He must be the bravest man she has known, and He must have the sturdiest faith—but she feels it and she knows it: He is afraid.
How can these people hate him so much? How can they be so cruel, drawing pleasure from His pain, reveling in His humiliation?
It’s heartbreaking enough to see Jesus suffering, but to be engulfed in this sea of hatred directed at Him, her bewildered heart shatters.
But she is going to be here for Him, come what may. She braces herself. Her heart might break into pieces, but her mind was made up: She will be here for him, to be the one shining face of love amidst this dark turbulent ocean of contempt.
What about us?
Are we able to brace ourselves when life summons us to show up when our loved ones need us in their suffering? Is there someone in our life now who needs us to be there for them and with them?
Can we, like Mary, overcome our aversion to pain and choose to stay even if we’d rather run away. After all, even if all we can do is stand a watch helplessly, we can do so lovingly.
The song for this station is “Mary, Did You Know?” Pause and remember that Mary did not always know or understand, but just the same, she believed and chose to stay. Pray that when the time calls for it, we too will gather our courage and stay, to give love even if we do not understand.
Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and prayers below.
Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and prayers below.
11 replies on “The Fourth Station”
Mothers show up. What powerful words. A Mother shows up even for her son on drugs, her activist daughter na namundok, eloped, got pregnant, her gay son. Mary showed up each and every time, till the bitter end. Mothers show up. Thank you Jesus for giving us your Mother.
“ Behold your Mother. “
How powerful a heart she has, how powerful it is to be a Mother! Jesus, I draw inspiration from your Mother. Thank you, Mother Mary. May I always have a heart like yours!
“The Pieta” says it all, Mother and Son eternal love. And I can relate🙏😇❤️
I’ll do anything for my children . Thank you Mama Mary for standing up for us. 🙏🏼
Jesus, please bring my I’m sorries to my Mama 💔
Thank you Mama Mary for showing Yourself to me everytime I need comfort. You were there in my worst and I know You will be with me until my last breath. To God be all the glory for blessing us with a Mother who constantly looks after us even in our sinfulness🙏
There are times when I do not know what to pray for in times of distress but I always ask Mama Mary to interceed for me. Mama Mary give me at least an ounce of your faith in Jesus especially in times of uncertainty.
Thank You Mama Mary for continuously saying Yes to God, from the Annunciation all the way to the Cross. 💗🙏
Thank you for this Fr. J 💕
Mary Mother, Holy mother of God pray for us!
When you kiss your baby, you kiss THE FACE OF GOD.
Wow. What a very humbling and powerful picture that was painted!
Thank you for this Fr. J.