Station 4: Jesus meets his Mother

But I am a worm, not a man, scorn of humankind, contempt of the people;
all who see me jeer at me, they sneer and wag their heads.
“He trusted himself to Yahweh, let Yahweh set him free”…
It was you who drew me from the womb and soothed me on my mother’s breast.
On you was I cast from my birth, from the womb I have belonged to you.
                                                                                    Psalm 22:6 - 10
 
Reflection:    Jesus looks up from the dust as he labors with the cross up the road that leads to Golgotha.  His eyes meet the eyes of his mother.  Even if tradition did not place her on the way of the cross, our hearts would know that she was there, waiting at a turn in the road.  Who can imagine what exchange took place in that look?  What love, what compassion, what mutual understanding and encouragement.  Is this the sword promised by Simeon, to see the child of her flesh condemned to die, to have no way to relieve him of the pain that is his destiny?
There are moments in each woman’s life when she is powerless to change what she would like to change for someone she loves.  She can only be there, and somehow being there is enough.
 
Let us stand here with Mary, contemplating that love between her and her son.  Let us breathe in the strength of that stance into our own souls, that we too may treasure the gift of presence, of simply being there for those we love.
Prayer:  Source of tranquility, be a peaceful presence for me.  Calm and settle my anxious spirit so that I can be a calming presence for another.  Set me free from my turmoil and fear so that I may be there for my friend.  Help me to trust that all shall be well so that I can loosen my grip on my need to control.  May I live in this moment, now, and be present to someone in pain.  You are here, Peaceful One, you are here.  I rest in you.
 
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed by Thy name.  Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  Amen.
 
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.
 
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, AMEN.
 
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.