Monday Reflection

Daily Gospel Reflection June 1^st, 2020

Gospel                                                                                  JN 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
    and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
    and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
    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 into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
    in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
    Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
    and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
    “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,
    in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
    for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
    the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
    and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
    and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
    they did not break his legs,
    but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
    and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

Dear Friends and Family,

            Jesus has given his all.  He laid down his life so that we might live.  One might recognize this sacrifice and say that there is nothing more to give.  Then Jesus surprises us once again and gives us the last thing that he can truly call his own, his mother Mary.  Jesus surrenders it all and then states, “It is finished.”  This is a perfect love.  Our God loves totally and completely, holding nothing back.  So what do we receive in accepting Mary as our Mother?

            We have a mother that is without sin, the Immaculate Conception.  She loves perfectly and courageously.  Mary answers God’s call without reservation and after a clarifying question she becomes the humble servant of the Lord.  Mary protects her son, becoming an immigrant for his sake when the Holy Family flees to Egypt.  She sacrifices the lavish gifts of the three kings to survive the hardships of life in exile.  Mary understands the pain of losing a son and the joy of finding him in the Temple.  She shares the Jewish faith with her son and obediently practices that faith so Jesus will know how to practice the faith as an adult.  Mary breaks bread with Jesus day after day and she shares her life with him.  She watches Jesus die and celebrates when he conquers death.  This is the Queen of Heaven, the Immaculate Conception, the Morning Star that Jesus gives to us.  Mary prays on behalf of her fallen children with her holy Son Jesus Christ.  As our world is being torn apart by violence, injustice, and pain, let us turn to our Holy Mother Mary who cares for all and ask her to intercede on our collective behalf.  Mary knows how her children are suffering and she knows what causes her children anguish.  Let us have the courage to accept the final gift Jesus gives to us and allow our Mother Mary to bring us closer to her Son.