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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Jesus Meets His Mother

~from Good Friday 2007

The visiting priest apparently spoke about the fourth station, Jesus Meets His Mother, with such tenderness and insight. How could you not? I think, just about every mother would say that this station is the one they feel the most. It is the one point in The Passion that is sure to have me bawling just knowing it is coming up. It is the station that brought about the "reversion" of a dear friend of mine who was struggling with the Church's teaching on Mary. Why do we love her so much? As she discovered on the island of Capri one Holy Week... because He loved her so much!

But this priest asked a question that I had never heard before, maybe you have... what was Mary thinking when she met Jesus? As a mom, we can imagine some of the pain she was going through. We know for a fact it was as though a sword was piercing her own heart. But what was she thinking? Father posited an answer.

She prayed, "Please help Him!"

She said a quiet prayer. And it was answered. How do we know? Because the next station is Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross. Can't you just hear Mary begging God for this? Please help Him! She knew who He was and what He had to do, but she was still His mother and He was her son. Please, help Him!

And then the next station, Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus. As a mom, it can be heart breaking to see your child's face altered due to a simple accident, even a childhood mishap that will naturally be corrected over time. This was her son's precious face, all covered with blood and sweat and dirt. Can't you hear the Blessed Mother crying inside... Let me see His beautiful face again!

This was the first time I had ever heard this interpretation and while I know that we can't know for sure, it really made sense to me. I have always been perplexed by the fifth station. Why did He need help? Who was Simon of Cyrene? Why was he chosen and what are we supposed to learn from this station? Yes, I've read the different interpretations and I think there are many scholarly people with plenty to say about the significance and importance of this station and the next, but I still. didn't. get it.

And St. Veronica? How did she make it through the crowds? Why would the guards have allowed this kindness after they had already inflicted so much pain? Were they distracted? Why?

It makes so much more sense now. God wouldn't refuse the prayer of the Blessed Mother. He knows the tortures of a mother's heart and he hears her prayers.

9 comments:

  1. This beautiful meditation made me cry unexpectedly this morning. I had never put that all together before. Of course, it makes so much sense. I, too, have wondered how Veronica made it through the crowd and past the guards. Of course, there was intervention. Blessed Mother's intercession is so powerful! Thank you, Charlotte.
    P.S. I am going to link to this post from my blog.

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  2. wow. wow, wow, wow.

    thank you so much for sharing this!

    if i get my act together today, I may link to this, too!

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  3. It's not fair to make me cry to so early in the morning!

    Great post, Charlotte!

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  4. I have never thought of it that way. Thanks so much for sharing Charlotte!

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  5. Very profound! I love it. By the way, God used you today, Charlotte. My wife has not been feeling well lately, and the children have been driving her nuts. I prayed for her this morning, for God to touch her heart and turn it towards the children and restore some peace to our home. And not 20 minutes after I got to my office, she directed me to your post. So thanks for sharing and helping us re-focus!

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  6. Thank you so much Charlotte for this beautiful meditation on the
    Fourth Station. I opened this off my daughter-in-law, Lisa Sweet's blog and as it made her cry it did me also. I will always reflect on this as I pray the Stations of the Cross! May God Bless you with a very holy and blessed Easter.
    Juanita Sweet

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  7. Thank you Charlotte. I happened upon your blog today and I am so glad I did.

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  8. I loved this when I saw it this morning before going to church, and held it in my heart so that I knew exactly what to pray for there. And then later, I told it to my daughter as we followed the cross through its stations, and it touched her deeply. So thank you, it meant alot to my family today.

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  9. The pieces of the puzzle fit so much better now. Thank you for posting this!

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and yourself!