Gospel according to John 19:25-27
Today, I want to remain there, at the foot of the Cross, beside You, Mother. I want to contemplate Your pierced heart and learn from You what it means to love until the end. You cannot remove the nails from Jesus’ hands; You cannot stop His pain. But You can do the greatest thing that love knows how to do: remain. You remain when everything seems finished. You remain while Your motherly heart is breaking. You remain because true love does not run away and never gives up. And it is precisely in the hour of greatest sorrow that something wonderful happens: Jesus looks at us from the Cross and entrusts us to You. “Behold, your Mother!” What an immense gift! In the hour of the Cross, Jesus does not leave us alone: He gives us His love and entrusts us to the heart of His Mother. My Mother, then take me with You. Hold me tightly when life hurts, teach me not to be afraid of the Cross, and above all, teach me to love Jesus as You love Him. I want to look at Him with Your eyes, adore Him with Your heart, and remain with Him always, in joy and in sorrow. And when I no longer know how to pray, Mother, simply bring me close to Him. I want to stay there with You, beneath the Cross, and allow myself to be enveloped by this infinite mystery of Love. Jesus, thank You, because from the Cross You gave me Your Mother. Mary, thank You, because from that day You welcomed me too as Your daughter. Keep me close to Your heart and bring me always, always to Jesus, in the Love He gave us from the Cross.
-Rosanna Dora De Lucia
