Mary, mother of God

John 19:25-27
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 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.

In the agony of death

you looked upon

the woman who gave you life

the woman who offered up her womb

for Gods seed to be planted

An offering that brought her 

shame

and joy

searing pain

and loss

pride

and puzzlement

consuming love

and crippling grief

You looked upon her

and asked her

for more -

to mother

your beloved disciple.

You placed him

into her care

and her

into his.

You knew

in the days to come

she would long for

a son to hold

and to cherish

one who would

look out for her

in her 

landscape of loss.

And there is a beauty

in a mother given

and a son chosen

in a relationship forged

not through blood

but gouged out

in love

May we know the joy

of mothering

and being mothered

in every stage of life.

Mary, our mother

lend us your love.