The First Witness of Christ (Behold your Mother!)

By: Rick Hernandez

At every Mass I attend, I look up expectantly to the large Crucifix that usually looks over us behind the altar. In my thoughts, I am transported for a moment to the side of our Mother Mary as she is held by the hand of Saint John the Evangelist, experiencing together the Passion of Christ, and I see myself behind them, feeling so sad… It is a difficult image to process, but every time, among the pain and sadness, I end up feeling Hope because not only do I see the act of Mercy from our Savior, but also that he left us in the care of His Most Precious Mother. Oh, to be as Saint John holding our Mother’s hand!

And I can see the fear and nervousness in the air as the multitude, driven mad with angst, call out to us, asking us why we are there: “Are you also one of His?” And I see Mother Mary, face set as flint, witnessing to her son, our Lord, withstanding the shouts and the leering, and I see myself taking courage from Her steadfastness… “...Behold your Mother.” (John 27:2)

“Behold your Mother!” our Lord said, and I feel her right by me now as she was back then for John. And I imagine being like John, feeling protective of Mary in the middle of all that pain and suffering, witnessing together that most efficacious moment, the self-sacrifice of our Lord, His great Mercy overflowing in action for our salvation.

And I imagine us helping Joseph of Arimathea take down the body of our Savior from the Cross, and I immediately go back to our temple seeing that beautiful Crucifix covered in purple, waiting expectantly in the great silence because we now know what those three days so long ago meant and continue to mean… Can you imagine our Mother Mary during those three days? “Behold your Mother!”

And I see us taking Mother Mary home and having her be part of our families. I see Mary teaching us how to love Christ Jesus and follow His example. Can you imagine Mother Mary’s great joy on Easter day? Can you imagine us, the new family, overjoyed that our Savior had overcome death for us?

And I can imagine both the joy and the sadness when our Lord had to ascend to take His place at the right hand of the Father. “I have to go!” we hear from our Lord, and I believe our Mother Mary felt bittersweet happiness. She probably wanted to go with Jesus right then, but she would not let the early Church be an orphan, for her new mission was to mother us, so she stayed with us for a while longer. “Behold your Mother!”

And I imagine Mother Mary partaking in the Eucharistic banquet the same as we do today. Can you imagine Mother Mary yet again one with Jesus? Mary again united to Christ, but this time also one with us, united through the Eucharist as one body, one Church, one people, God’s people, and I tremble over that. I see new witnesses learning to witness from the first witness of Jesus.

A witness testifies to the truth, and Mother Mary testified to the truth of Christ with her very life. Mother Mary mothered the Apostles. If Mary Magdalene is the Apostle to the Apostles for leading them to see the empty tomb, then who is Mother Mary who watched over them but a mother to the Apostles and the Mother of the entire Church? And she is still doing this today for us, love for us present, her Immaculate Heart interceding for us, leading us by the hand to her Son, Jesus. “Behold your Mother!” She points the way to Christ.

Let us pray: ”Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen.” (The Memorare Prayer)
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Rick Hernandez

Rick Hernandez is a commonsense Catholic, Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, and a Director for Elisheba House. He lives in Trinity, Florida, with his wife Ivonne and their children. He also writes for the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament's Daily Eucharistic Reflections and for Catholicmom.com