Jesus, hanging on the cross in His final moments, looks down and sees His beloved Mother Mary standing there with John, the disciple He loved most. In what might be one of the most tender moments in all of Scripture, Jesus doesn't think about His own agony - instead, He's making sure His mom will be taken care of. "Woman, behold your son," He says to Mary, then to John, "Behold, your mother." It's like Jesus is saying, "John, you're family now - take care of Mom for me." But here's the beautiful thing: this wasn't just about John. This was Jesus giving us all a gift we didn't even know we needed.
When Jesus gave Mary to John, He was really giving her to all of us who follow Him. Think about it - what does every good Catholic family need? A mother who prays for us, worries about us, and always points us back to her Son. Mary becomes our spiritual mother in the most literal sense, the one who intercedes for us and helps us grow closer to Jesus. She's not a replacement for Jesus - she's the perfect guide who always says, "Do whatever He tells you" (just like she did at the wedding in Cana!). Having Mary as our mother means we have someone who understands both human suffering and divine love, someone who walked the path of faith before us and can help us stay on track when life gets messy.
Today's scripture shows us something crucial about following Jesus: it's not a solo journey. Jesus could have handled His mother's care after His resurrection, but instead He chose to create family bonds right there on Calvary. Following Jesus means joining a family. We get a heavenly Mother who's been through it all, siblings in faith from every corner of the world, and a Father who loves us enough to adopt us completely. When we embrace Mary as our mother, we're not just being nice to Jesus's mom - we're accepting our place in God's family tree.
The genius of this moment is that Jesus shows us how to live even while He's dying. He's thinking about relationships, about love, about making sure His followers have what they need to carry on. If we want to follow Jesus authentically, we need to embrace the whole family He has given us - including His Mother. Mary isn't just a beautiful figure from history; she's our active, praying, loving spiritual mother who wants nothing more than for all her children to find their way home to her Son. So next time you're struggling with following Jesus, remember: you're not orphaned in this faith journey. You have a Mother in heaven who's rooting for you, praying for you, and ready to help you say "yes" to whatever God is asking of you.
To Jesus Through Mary
What incredible joy floods the heart when we truly understand that "To Jesus through Mary" is only half the magnificent story! Yes, we go to our Lord through his beloved Mother, but oh, what happens next is breathtaking! Once we reach Jesus through Mary's loving guidance, we don't leave her behind like some forgotten doorway. Instead, we return "to Mary with Jesus" - united now in the most beautiful relationship of love!
This is the stunning truth that sets hearts ablaze: Mary isn't just a means to an end; she's the beloved daughter of the Father, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the Mother who brings us to Christ himself! When we're united to Jesus, we live his very life - and Jesus's life is completely Marian! His heart beats with love for Mary, so our hearts must too. As St. Maximilian Kolbe cried out in holy ecstasy: "Sweet Heart of Mary, make me love you like crazy!"
The saints understood this glorious reality and were unable to contain their joy! St. Bernardine spoke of falling "head over heels in love" with Mary, while little St. Jacinta of Fatima exclaimed with pure delight: "I so love the Immaculate Heart of Mary! Don't you find it sweet to repeat often: Heart of Mary!" Even Scripture bursts with this love through Lady Wisdom: "I love them that love me" - what a promise of reciprocal affection!
How this must make Jesus smile with infinite happiness! When we love Mary with all our hearts, we're letting Jesus love her again through us on earth. We become living tabernacles of his Marian love, and Mary herself whispered to St. Gemma: "Long for me; I too am sighing for you." Total Consecration to Mary isn't just going through her to Jesus - it's the ecstatic dance of going to Jesus through Mary, then to Mary with Jesus, in an eternal circle of love that makes heaven rejoice!
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
