[Editor’s NOTE: In Anno Domini 2024, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, celebrated on the 25th of March, takes place next week. In his BFP, however, Laache places Annunciation Day on the Fifth Sunday in Lent.]
161. Thursday after Annunciation Day.
At thy cross, Lord Jesus, is the home of love;
draw me thither. Amen.
John 19, 25-27. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
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After his baptism Jesus had addressed his mother as “Woman,” but had cared for her as for his mother. This is now to cease; for he is to be “cut off out of the land of the living” (Isaiah 53, 8), and shall not henceforth be known of any after the flesh. But he does not leave his mother alone and helpless. As he had, of his own free will, taken upon himself the condition of a son, and had shown filial love and duty to Mary, so he now places this love and duty on the shoulders of John; for he has authority in this matter, even while hanging on the cross. And he gives to Mary the rights of a mother in the home of John. He is Lord of the Fourth Commandment, but had obeyed it. He pays in full for all our transgressions of this commandment; and how sublimely does he not honor it, and teach us the duty of love toward our parents!
It was a splendid gift which John here received. He received as his mother the blessed of God among women; he is to maintain her, care for her, and, as far as possible, heal her sick soul, which had been pierced by the sword of grief. To John, the apostle of love, this was a beauteous and precious gift; but there be many who claim to love the Lord, and who yet refuse to accept from him such a gift as this. John led Mary away from the cross as his mother — presumably before the last terrible hours of darkness, — and it is said that she lived with him eleven years before going to her long home. — Now your parents and other old and friendless people are the mother of Jesus (Matthew 12, 48 and following verses) whom he gives to you; and he wants to give you filial love to receive and care for these. If you seek your peace in Jesus, and if his cross is your abiding place, then from his cross he points to them that stand about, and that need your help; and he speaks to you, saying: “Behold thy mother!” It is your crucified Jesus who commits them to your care; receive them from him; then shall they, with the love which follows them as his gift to your heart, become to you the most precious treasure which you can have in your earthly home.
Christ is a most generous testator. He bequeathed to us his body to be our food, his blood to be our drink, his soul to be our ransom, his wounds to be our healing, his arms to be our safe refuge, his cross to be our shield, his pierced heart to be our pledge of love, the water out of his side to be our bath, his sweat to be our cure, his crown of thorns to be our ornament, his word to be our guide, his life to be an example for our imitation; and his members, who believe in him, he appointed to receive the love of them that are beloved of him.
— Bernard of Clairvaux
Give to me also, Lord Jesus, grace to receive and care for them that are thine. Give me the priceless gift of charity in my poor heart, and let it rule in my house. Amen.
O blessed house, that cheerfully receiveth
Thy visits, Jesus Christ, the soul’s true friend;
That, far beyond all other guests, believeth
It must to thee its warmest cheer extend;
Where every heart to thee is fondly turning,
Where every eye for thee with pleasure speaks,
Where all to know thy will are truly yearning,
And everyone to do it promptly seeks.
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