STATIONS OF THE CROSS - 4 -
Jesus meets His Mother on The Via Dolorosa
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms
and praised God.
Simeon blessed Mary, Joseph and the baby, and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
'What was it Simeon said: “A sword will pierce your soul?” I spent so long, wondering what He meant, a strange thing to say at such a joyful time
of His presentation in the Temple.
Now I know, all too well.
My heart’s not just pierced,
it’s broken!
"We’d laid him in a manger when he was born, a rough-hewn box where cattle had munched just moments before. We did our best to make it safe, of course, laying down a bed of straw, and wrapping him in swaddling clothes, terrified that a splinter, even a nail, might pierce his tender new-born skin.
But it was only a reprieve, because, when he became a man, my son was to be pierced by both splinters and nails. I realised, as never before that, however much we treasured that bundle in the hay, however much we longed to keep Him safe, He cared, and continues to care, a thousand times more."
When Jesus and His mother meet they just look at each other. Words cannot express how they feel. What He saw in his mother’s eyes must have hurt Him more than the raw pain of his wounds.
This for Jesus is the most painful time of all. This is his bereavement.
I’ve stood by here today and watched my son ridiculed, beaten, violated.
I watched him as he twisted in agony…
and yet, He was thinking of me, even then! He was concerned more about my welfare than His. So like Jesus! The way he’s been from a boy.”
Mary - blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus, and in Him are blessed all who mourn, and all who care for the terminally-ill; all who find themselves in fearful situations; all who are displaced.
We give thanks - for those ears that listen when no-one seems to hear;
for those arms that embrace us in our fear; for those feet that walk with us when the way is difficult; for those shoulders for tears when life is tricky; I see my son ridiculed, beaten, violated,
I watch Him as He falls and is twisted in agony…' Jesus, we remember the gaze that
rested between you and your mother.
In that moment of pain there was also a moment of deep and enduring love.
Jesus, give us the courage to bring that love into the deepest recesses of our homes, to our children and to our spouses, to those places of fracture and disharmony in our families, friends, communities, and nations..
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
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