Behold your son

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished … (Jn 19:26-28)

The final clause of this gospel passage “After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished ...” points to the deep significance of Mary's role in Salvation History, of her active participation in our redemption. This moment on the Cross brings to completion what was begun at the Annunciation. At the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit is poured out into the Virgin Mary, and on the Cross the Holy Spirit is poured out onto all of humanity. At the Annunciation, Mary becomes the Mother of Christ; at the Crucifixion, Mary becomes the Mother of us all.

It is perhaps in the mother-child relationship that we most clearly identify with someone's humanity. When we see a person suffering, it can be tempting to see them as a something rather than a someone. Rather than let the sight trouble us, we may prefer to close our minds to their humanity. But if we remember that they are someone's son or daughter, then it is almost impossible to lack empathy. In the First World War, an officer was reported as saying that the worst thing about war wasn't seeing all the dead bodies, but hearing the wounded young men crying out for their mothers.

On the Cross, despite being brutally disfigured, Christ's perfect humanity is seen to shine through as he cries out to his mother. It is at this point we are able to totally identify with Christ, to fully share in His humanity and His divinity. Mary's motherhood brings to birth Christ's love within us, and it is through this love that we come to be our true selves. Because she is our mother in the order of grace, she is most truly our mother.