Good Friday

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister,
Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 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."
(John 18:1-19; 42)

None of the other three Gospels mention that any of the family of Jesus--or any of the disciples--were near the cross

But the Gospel of John has two family members there--Jesus' mother and his aunt. We seldom think of his aunt at the cross. She was probably there mostly for her sister, Mary, who she knew was having a hard time.

There they are. His mother, his aunt, the beloved disciple, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Each of them concerned about Jesus and about each other.

At Christmas, we are touched by the crib scene. On Good Friday, we should let ourselves be touched by the cross scene. The wood of the crib has become the wood of the cross.

Put yourself in the scene. Spend some time with the Lord...and with his mother, her sister, Mary Magdalene and the beloved disciple.

The Little Black Book

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Thanks be to God!