Gospel in Art: Stations of the Cross - 4: Jesus meets His Mother

Jesus meets His Mother by Jean Baptists van Eycken, ©Notre Dame de la Chapelle, Brussels/Alamy

Source: Christian Art

5 April 2022

John 19: 27

Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"

And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Reflection on the Painting

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

You still have a long way to walk to Calvary and look how exhausted you are already. But your mother is there, right behind you, stretching out her arms to hold you. The soldiers pull her away. What chaos. Your mother is in tears. Turn round and you can see her.

Your mother shed so many tears on that day… and still today. Looking at what is going on in the world today, especially in Ukraine. She is the one we can cry in front of, just as you, my Jesus, did that day. With open arms she hears all of our voices and pleas.

As I look at at Mary's tears, each drop touches my heart. She is weeping in profound desolation, overwhelmed by the most bitter sight of her Son walking towards his death. Nothing touches us more than the tears of a mother. They flow directly from a heart of love. Saint Augustine tells us that tears are the blood of the heart. How true. For today, I weep with you, Mary.

Our Father, who art in heaven…

Hail Mary, full of grace…

Glory be to the Father and to the Son…

LINK

Christian Art - www.christian.art

Today's picture: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-19-27-2022/

(Normal Gospel reading for the day: John 8:21-30)