Vessel & Altar

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. - John 19:25

The women stayed. When the inner circle had scattered, the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee were standing at the foot of the cross. Mary first among them. The standing is not passive - it is the most costly form of presence, the choosing to remain where it is unbearable to remain because love does not know how to do otherwise.

Blood and water flowed from his pierced side. The Church has always read this as the birth of the sacraments - and Mary is standing at the birth. She is the woman of Genesis whose offspring crushes the serpent's head, and she is the woman of the cross who witnesses the moment the crushing is complete. The yes she gave in Nazareth is being fulfilled at Golgotha, and she stands in both places.

Sister, she is the mother of the Church - and of you. The woman Jesus gave to the Beloved Disciple is the woman given to all who follow. Her model is presence, pondering, and bringing things to her Son. That is the whole of her method, and it is available to you.

As May ends, name one thing you have been pondering this month - one intention, one person, one question - that you have not yet brought explicitly to Mary. Bring it to her today. Ask her to bring it to Jesus. She is in the house. She prays.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church, you stood where others ran. Teach me to stay. Teach me to ponder what I do not understand. And bring what I carry to your Son. Amen.