DAILY- HOMILY

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother."

For many of us, which is more difficult to endure … physical pain and discomfort, or the psychological stress when seeing our loved ones in anguish? Surely many of us may have in some way or another gone through such experiences in our lives.

The description of the passion and death of Jesus as recorded in the two verses of the Gospel of John, still speaks to us powerfully even after 2,000 years.

When we read today's gospel, we imagine Jesus, our shepherd, teacher, friend, even an elder brother, in great pain, suffering as he hangs on the cross. His body suffers pain and is covered by the bloody wounds inflicted by the scourging of the roman soldiers. He suffers not only because of the physical wounds inflicted on him but also because of the many difficulties associated with this kind of punishment. He also suffers intense emotion wounds because his fellow men, whom he had loved, condemned him to this terrible death on the cross. His closest friends and disciples, like Peter, had denied and abandoned and perhaps disappointed him.

Even while he was suffering on the cross, Jesus feels the confusion and grief of his beloved disciple. He also feels the quiet and tender faith of his mother, even in her great anguish and sorrow. His mother has always supported him in his work and mission on earth, even if she did not always understand where they would lead to.

Amid all his suffering, Jesus said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son". Perhaps he meant "Mama, look at me, your beloved son. Even in my pain and anguish, I love you so much. Look at him beside you, my "beloved brother", he also feels confusion and grief. Please take care of him and his friends and take them as your own children". Then, he said to his beloved disciple, "Behold your mother". "Look at my mother; she will now be a mother to you as she was to me. Respect and honor her in the same way I respected and honored her. She will care for you in the same way she cared for me. She will be your consolation. She will hold you in her heart as she holds me in her heart".

How does today's Gospel relate to our personal lives?