Station 4 Devotional

IV

I watch the little children play

Their eyes hold on to me the way

Your eyes caressed the one who gave your name

Compassion, fill my face I pray

At the fourth Station of the Cross, Jesus meets his mother. John records that Mary was at the crucifixion of her son.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,

and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved

standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is

your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19: 25-27).

The gospels do not record that Jesus saw Mary along the way to the cross, but it is a probability. She was in the city and at the crucifixion.

“Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from

Galilee to care for his needs.Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of

James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55-56).

“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary

the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women

had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him

to Jerusalem were also there” (Mark 15:40-41).

“But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,

stood at a distance, watching these things” (Luke 23: 49).

At that time perhaps Mary remembered Simeon’s prophecy when her baby was born.

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause

the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so

that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul

too’” (Luke 2: 34-35).

Reflection Question: Can you recall a time when someone truly saw you with eyes of compassion?

Prayer: Oh God, whose eye is on the sparrow and who, in your compassion, touched the eyes of a blind man, help us to look full in your wonderful face. In the name of Jesus, whose eyes caressed the whole world — his mother, his brothers, those who rejected him and went away sorrowful, and even those who killed him.