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The loss of a child is the greatest loss a parent can suffer. Parents expect their children to outlive them. When the reverse happens, the parent’s pain of loss can be devastating. Such was the pain of Mary, the mother of Jesus, upon watching her son being brutally tortured, then crucified by the Roman soldiers.
The words of the prophet Simon at the Temple in Jerusalem, when Mary and Joseph presented Mary’s firstborn male to the Lord, now haunted her. It was as though Simon were standing beside Mary and saying the words anew to her. “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.”
With each pounding of the sharp nails into her beloved son’s hands and feet, Mary’s heart was pierced with agonizing pain. It was as though her own flesh was being torn asunder. It was all she could do to stand and watch this unbelievable horror happening to the one whose birth was announced to her by an angel.
What was it the angel had said to her? It seemed so long ago now, yet, it was as if it had happened only yesterday. Then her mind remembered those words of blessing and great expectation. The angel had greeted her, then told her, “do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
How can this be? The one who was to be called the Son of the Most High and reign as king is now dying upon a cruel cross in one of the most painful deaths that can happen to a person. Mary gazed upon the sign nailed above her son’s head. The Roman governor, Pilate, had ordered these words to be written on the sign in Hebrew, Latin and Greek for all to read, “The King of the Jews.”
Mary became dizzy, her eyes blurred with tears. Surely this was not what the angel had meant? There must be something more. Death cannot have the victory! Yet, even now, Jesus was gasping for air. Mary could stand up no longer. As her knees gave way, she felt someone catch her. It was John, the Beloved Disciple.
Then she heard Jesus speaking to her. He said, “Woman, here is your son.” What did he mean? Then Jesus spoke to John, “Here is your mother.” Even in the midst of great agony, Jesus was taking care of her.
The son whom she had once held in her arms and tended to his every need, was now making sure that she would not be left alone in this world. Jesus, her firstborn, was placing his mother into the hands of his most trusted and beloved disciple, John. John was the only one of the disciples who had not deserted Jesus in his hour of need. As if in acknowledgment of his new assignment, John drew Mary closer to him, trying to protect her from more grief. Mary covered her face with her veil as she buried her head in John’s chest and wept.
In his own loving way, Jesus had told his mother good-bye. For Mary, the sorrow was complete. The child whom the Lord God had entrusted her to raise would soon be dead. How could this be? Why had the Lord abandoned them? Why was God allowing this to happen? These questions and more overwhelmed Mary as the sword of grief pierced her heart yet again.
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