Lent: 4/9/09
April 9, 2009
Thursday of Holy Week
John 19:26-27
“A New Family”
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. – John 19:26-27
At last Jesus speaks to his “family” from the cross. His first word was a private conversation within the heart of the Trinity, “Forgive”. The Second was a word of assurance to a condemned and dying criminal, “Paradise!” Now this third word is directed to us as we watch this macabre coronation too shocked to turn away.
“Woman, behold your son (daughter).” and “Man (woman), behold your Mother.” These are the words from the cross for us today. Even as we have continually misunderstood and failed him at every step for the journey that has brought us to this place, he thinks of our loss and pain. Even as we have abandoned, denied and betrayed him, he thinks of our comfort and well-being.
With this word I remember other words that fall from our lips often too freely. “By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church…” From that day forward there would be no more orphans or childless mothers among those who have stood at the foot of the cross. Even in that moment of agony, he created a family that would transcend the grasp of human tragedy and need. The prophetic cries to remember the widow, the orphan, and the stranger living in our midst came to a fulfillment that would last forever.
At another time he had said, “Who are my mother, sisters, and brothers? Those who do the will of God are indeed my mother and sister and brother!” And now they are ours too. Jesus who had no possessions, left us the greatest gift of all in this his last will and testament. Jesus gave us each other. In these dark days, as everything we have come to know and trust and hope comes tumbling down, we still have each other. And that has always been enough.
This day let us consider our mothers, not just those of our birth, but those of our spiritual birth and life as well. Let us consider our children, not just those who bear our name, but those who share our faith. Let us consider our brother in sisters, not only of shared parents, but gifted to us at Calvary. We honor these words from the cross as we continue to care for and nurture each other. Loneliness should not be found within the community of faith. Hunger and thirst and homelessness should be strangers to those who share these words. Today let us remember one another as a sacred trust from God. By this we shall be known as his disciples, that we have love for one another.
Let us pray…
Help us O Lord,
To see one another through your eyes of mercy.
Help us to see in every lonely person, the face of our own mother.
Help us to see in every needy person, the face of our own child.
Help us to see in every stranger we meet, the face of our own sister or brother.
So that in each of us, they might see the face of our Lord,
who feared not death for himself,
but sought comfort for his family,
even while hanging from a tree.
It is in his name that we pray….
It is in his name that we act…
It is in his name that we live and move and have our being,
both this day and forever more. Amen.
