John 19:26-34,38-42 NRSVue

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.

³⁸After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed his body. ³⁹Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
We can only dimly imagine the love Jesus had for his mother. He now shows exquisite care for her, and also commits to her the task of caring for the early Church. We find her later praying with the disciples before Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Surely she prays with us and guides us toward her Son.

Reflection
‘O Lady of the Passion, dost thou weep? What hope can we then through our tears survey? If such as thou a cause for anguish keep, What help, what hope for us, sweet Lady, say! Dear man, it doth befit thy heart To lay more comfort next it, having seen me so. All other hearts find here their balm today. The whole world’s consolation is my woe. – From an 11th c Greek author