Meditation:

After the Fall of Adam and Eve, God, in his love and mercy, promised our First Parents and their descendants, the gift of redemption and a mother who would assist us in our battle against satan. “I will put enmity between you, (satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers…” She is the one through whom God will send the Redeemer and the one who will lead us to our Savior. Because of sin, we often become like Adam and Eve, hiding from God. God knows that we need a loving mother who will draw us back to the Father and assist us in resisting the wiles of the evil one. “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me, and do not prevent them for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these’” (Matthew 19:14). How do we, as little children, come to the Father? Our Blessed Mother carries us to Him. For this reason, Jesus declared from the Cross, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ And to her children, ‘Behold your mother.’ (John 19:26-27) Knowing the love and power of Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer, the devil does all in his power to discourage us from honoring her, especially by discouraging us from bringing children to Our Lady. Let us be like John, who, “…took her into his home.” (ibid.)

Jesus was stripped of everything; His body was mutilated by the scourging and while those in opposition watched, He climbed the hill to Calvary and was nailed to the Cross. To some, Jesus seemed alone. Yet, Jesus was never alone: He is always united to His Heavenly Father and is one in heart with his Mother Mary. Even as He was nailed to the Cross, Jesus interceded to the Father for us and prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Mary joined Jesus in this prayer; she does not want anyone to be separated from her Son. After three long hours of suffering, Jesus looked at those who were at the foot of the Cross, and seeing them and us, gave us the gift of His Beloved Mother. Through her intercession, may children come to know the love of their heavenly mother who most willingly offered her Divine Son for our redemption, and in turn may they grow in their love and reverence for their Blessed Mother.

In His last words to His disciples, Jesus commended them to His mother, as their comforter and guide. She is one of His most cherished treasures, a gift beyond measure, and He wishes us to join Him in loving and honoring His Mother. Mary always brings us to Jesus. We see this with John, the beloved disciple who fled after Jesus’ arrest in the garden. But John returns with Mary and follows Jesus to Calvary. John, with Mary was able to faithfully stand at the foot of the Cross. Jesus wishes us, while holding the hand of our Blessed Mother, to pick up our Cross and follow Him in all the events of our life. “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me, and do not prevent them for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these’” (Matthew 19:14). Mary never leads us astray. Let us reach out to those children deprived of the knowledge and devotion to their Blessed Mother and pray for increased devotion to Our Blessed Mother among all her children.