The Way of the Passion by Julien Chilcott-Monk

Author:Julien Chilcott-Monk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pauline Books and Media
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

STATION 20

Jesus Greets His Mother

And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him (Luke 23:27).

Numbering among the womenfolk are the Galilean women: Mary of Magdala; Joanna; Susannah; Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Salome, an aunt of Jesus. Of course his mother is with them and, maybe, Martha and Mary from Bethany, and many others. It is inconceivable that Mary his mother and some others would not attempt to greet him personally on the way.

Balancing unsurely and unsteadily after his fall, Jesus presses forward again with a lurching gait. The soldier behind him encourages him forward. Mary stares at her staggering son; as she walks alongside, she moves closer to him with her arms outstretched. Jesus steadies himself, finding he can use the timber of the cross as a temporary prop, painful though it is to do so. The woman is obviously the prisoner’s mother, so no one prevents her clutching his arm or interferes with their greeting one another. Even the ill-disciplined soldier behind Jesus has found something else to amuse him.

Their embrace is restricted. Nothing is said: no words are necessary. There are two gulps from our Lady and a deep but quiet moan from Jesus. Briefly each looks into the other’s eyes, and they read the thoughts they see. For a moment the world stands still. The other women keep their distance, unwilling to break the spell. “Let’s move it now!” This call from the centurion looses the embrace but not the indestructible bond between mother and Son; between Creator and created, between God and his Mother.

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