Benny Nalkara, CMI

“Woman, here is your son” and “Here is your mother” (Jn 19:26-27). These emotionally packed statements from the crucified Jesus seems to be the most empathetic and altruistic words of Jesus among his seven utterings from the cross. These words to mother Mary and to John, his beloved disciple is the third one among those seven verses and the first of them to be recorded in the Gospel of John. While, Jesus was at the peak of his pain, he could be sympathetic to the suffering ones around him and could console them. He was concerned about the awaiting loneliness of his mother and the beloved disciple.
Mother Mary is present in the Gospel of John only on two occasions, namely, at Cana and at Calvary. On both the occasions, she is depicted as an other-centred and altruistic person who stands with the suffering ones. On both the occasions, she is addressed as “woman.” But what we find here is a radical shift in expression of the filial emotions of Jesus. At Cana, Mary was encountered with an indifferent question, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?” (Jn 2:4). But here at Calvary, his words express his concern for the mother. It’s also an approval of the motherhood of Mary which was fulfilled through her fulfilment of the will of God faithfully. Jesus had undergone almost all the sorrows of human race, except the loss of a mother. The thought that Jesus was determined not to give anyone that pain might have been behind this utterance of Jesus, might be not only romantic but also existential.
Jesus’ words to Mary and John were not merely utterances of comfort and consolation, but they were affirmations on discipleship too. Jesus didn’t answer from a biological point of view to the question, “who is my mother, brother and sister?” He asserted that it is in the listening to the Word of God and its fulfilment, he found the realization of the motherhood and fraternity. From the time of annunciation to the hour of crucifixion, Mary lent her years to the Word of God and prepared space for it. It is at this juncture of the fulfilment of the discipleship at the foot of the cross that Mary’s motherhood was flowered. When Jesus told John. “Behold, here is your mother,” Jesus was testifying that Mary became the mother through the ideal way of discipleship and would be an inspiring presence in the way of the discipleship. When Jesus said, “behold, your son” to Mary, he might have intended the care and example Mother Mary was supposed to give to the other disciples than the protection that John would set up for her. John’s pronounced sonship is to be viewed as an approval for his steadfastness to the call of Christ. Amidst all the life-threatening situations, he stood nearby Jesus and this stance was rewarded through the title of “son” by Jesus, in fact a title solely possessed by himself. It is an eye-opener that faithfulness and loyalty to Christ would transform us to divine sonship.
Jesus’ words to Mary and John are real testimonial to the affirmation and acknowledgement of the faithful accompaniment that Mary did although the life of Jesus as a disciple and as a mother. Fidelity and loyalty to Jesus that withstands all the tests and trials of life is the hallmark of discipleship. To be present until the foot of the cross of Christ is the norm to be an ideal disciple of Jesus. When Jesus asked his disciples to carry the cross and to follow him, it was invitation to the way of the Cross of Jesus. It demands self- renunciation and complete surrender to God’s will. From a biological motherhood Mary has now transformed to the spiritual motherhood through this radical way of living.
Jesus’ words to Mary and John refers to another aspect of discipleship also. It points to the care and concern a disciple should have towards others in all circumstances of life. Even though Jesus was at the zenith of sufferings on the cross, he taught them the lessons of compassion, empathy and broadmindedness that a disciple should embody in life. Our call to discipleship is a call to be “the wounded healers” in the world. Jesus, perhaps emphasized this great lesson on discipleship through his utterings to Mary and John.
As the disciples of Christ we are privileged with the possibility of transforming ourselves to mother and son status in life. Our faithfulness to Christ that reaches his Cross and the steadfastness to his words are the only norms we need to be fulfilled to become eligible for this great reward in life.