John 19:25-34 NRSVue

²⁵And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

²⁶When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” ²⁹A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
As I find myself at the foot of the Cross how am I? Can I see Him dying out of love, out of ‘utter solidarity with us humans and not judgement?

Reflection
At Eucharist the priest says “this is my body broken for you’, can I see Jesus’s love being the driving force behind and through His entire life on this planet? Do I hear the call to be like Him? To give my ‘body’, my whole self in loving service?

Reflection
As I look back over my life can I recall times when I have been called to ‘give’ in love and been able to do so? Any times when I have not been able to give myself in love? And what was that like and the fallout from it?

Reflection
Can I BE there with Jesus in loving presence with him?