Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Jesus loves his family so much. He manages his household perfectly. Bishops must be like him so that they, like him, can "take care of the Church of God". Jesus has such love for us that he makes us a part of that family. He says to us, "Behold, your mother." He doesn't just love the Church like he loves his family, Joseph, Mary and his Father in heaven. Rather, he makes us a part of that family! What great intimacy!
Together with Jesus, Mary keeps us "under control with perfect dignity". This is a great blessing. We can be wild children and we need help. The mother Jesus gives us is up to the task. She is perfectly temperate, self-controlled, and decent. Her hospitality is without limit as Elizabeth learns. She is gentle and able to teach us. Of course she is! This is the household of God (cf. Eph. 2:19)! Of course she is dignified and faithful in everything. Her offspring are "those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (cf. Rev. 12:17). If the house of the bishop is meant to reflect his care for the Church then of course Jesus chooses Mary for his own household. The amazing part is that he lets us share in her own tender motherly care.
What love that they both have for us! Jesus endures the exalted Cross out of love for us. Mary keeps her station at the cross, a living martyr, out of love for Jesus. But she also stands there for us. For those of us who can't quite manage it on our own she stands steadfast and stalwart. For those who are tempted to run Mary herself stands firm. She embraces her children and helps them to see the cross through her eyes with her own love. She is willing to share with us the sword that pierces her own heart. The sword that pierces the side of Jesus also pierces the soul of Mary. And somehow there is a profound value in this experience. It opens more fully the love which Jesus deserves, the love we so seldom give him.
Mary, from her station by the cross, loves Jesus perfectly. And she will help us to do so as well. Our secret thoughts in which we place ourselves first are revealed as selfish in the light of the love for Jesus which Mary shares with us. This is a passionate love. It is a tender love. It is riveted by his sufferings and cannot look away. It is a heart which is justifiably called a living martyr. Mary will guide us to love Jesus with this same love.
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux understands the love with which Mary loves. This is the love which Our Lady of Sorrows offers us this morning.
Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary’s Son? For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit? He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his.Mary is Our Lady of Sorrows. If we let her be that for us she will also be Our Lady of Joys. With her we shall say, "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness" (cf. Psa. 30:11).
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