“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 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” (Jn 19:25-27).
When reading these verses, one may ponder the great love Jesus Christ had for His Blessed Mother that was exhibited from the cross while in agony. Oh the pain He must have endured in His Sacred Heart watching her suffer. How grateful He was to John the evangelist for taking her into his own home to care for her.
Who can explain the love of a child or adult for their earthly mother? Recently I visited a young man in prison; a young man who will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He has no chance for a parole.
It was in the solitude of his confinement that he turned to God with the help of some ‘evangelical’ Protestants. During my visit, he shared with me how anti-Catholic his new found ‘evangelical’ friends were. After enduring months of hearing anti-Catholic statements, he finally said to them, “Stop bad-mouthing the Catholics! They cannot be all bad - they helped my mother!”
As it turns out, we had helped his mother escape a violent situation. When I met him for the first time, he immediately knew who I was because we had helped his mother. How grateful he was that we assisted her. I am looking forward to my next visit with him.
Recently, a group of priests were dining at a local restaurant. One of the chefs spied the group of priests dressed in their clerical garb. He immediately went to their table and asked, “Do you know Father Kubat?”
“Yes, we do!” They replied. After asking them to tell me ‘hello,’ he bought their dinners. As it turns out, we had helped his mother in the past escape a violent man who insisted she have an abortion. When she refused, the man assaulted her and threatened her life. How grateful her son was that we helped her.
After John agreed to take his spiritual mother into his home, Jesus said, “I thirst!” (Jn 19:28). Followed by, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). It was then He gave up His spirit to His Heavenly Father.
Make no mistake, Jesus thirsts for our souls. He wishes that we imitate His sacrificial love for others. I know this is the only reason our benefactors support us. They love Jesus who is present in the needy.
Not only are our clients grateful, but so are their children. In addition, like John, Jesus wishes that we take our spiritual mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary into the homes of our hearts.
It is my prayer that you will grow closer to God the Father through His only begotten Son in the Holy Spirit this Lenten season. May you imitate St. John the Apostle and take the Blessed Virgin Mary into the home of your heart and know that she too will help you by her prayers.
Please know that we at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers during this holy time of year.
