4: Jesus meets His Mother

"Then the angel [Gabriel] said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' " - Luke 1:30-33

"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.' " - John 19:25-26


The station focuses on Mary's visit to Jesus as he's carrying the cross, though scripture only notes Mary being present at the actual crucifixion. Nonetheless, I'm sure a number of things were racing through her mind. A parent losing a child is one of the hardest things a mother could experience. And Mary had to watch it helplessly - a witness to the end of a life she was so crucial in creating. She could no more intervene in his death, than have stopped his conception from happening in the first place.

Her belief carries on though - and she's immediately taken in by one of Jesus's disciples at his command. Just like the wedding at Cana, Jesus is taking care of his mother - even at the very end.

It's a good reminder for us - to look out for others, even when we're stressed out, weak or just worn out from the day. Even if it's a simple phone call, card or even a text message - words of comfort, encouragement or friendship can change someone's life. And help us to provide a silent witness to Jesus on the cross.