Reflecting on John 19:17-27“‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’” (John 19:26-27)
How do people respond when they see others suffering?
It depends on who they are, and who the suffering ones are to them.
There are people motivated by compassion, others by cruelty.
Compassion is shown through a desire to help, to relieve their suffering.
Cruelty is shown through mockery, abuse and self-serving behaviour.
Pilate, the Jewish leaders and the soldiers are being cruel.
Jesus, the grieving women, and this disciple who takes in Mary, are being compassionate.
Humility, grace and compassion are the Jesus Way, and should be our way too.
We are seen by God through eyes of love; this is how we should see others.
Where do I see people suffering, and how am I responding?
Jesus urges this disciple to treat Mary as his own mother.
What if we treated strangers, opponents, enemies and ‘sinners’ as our own family?
If that homeless person, disruptive person or addict was my brother or sister?
Jesus is asking us to love His family as our own, and His family are all God’s children.
When you look at this or that person, ‘here is your father, mother, brother, sister!’
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your compassion both both inspires and challenges me. Help me to see people - including strangers, opponents, sinners and enemies - as fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters in need of grace, mercy, compassion and kindness.
As a child we sang, Jesus loves all the children of the world. We are all His children created in His image. We are to love one another and do as He did. Be a peacemaker, an instrument of His peace in word and deed. They can see we are Christian by our love.