Mary and John stand at the foot of the Cross.

Death by crucifixion is one of slow asphyxiation. Only by straining against the nails can a convict pull themselves upright enough to take in precious air. Each breath is torture. As time goes by his muscles give out and the nerves stop synchronizing properly. Crucifixion is as cruel as it is efficient. Every word Christ said on the Cross was herculean labor. Every word had a universal meaning to all of us. We kill God, and he makes us his brothers and sisters. How we are given such a gift of love and forgiveness instead of being pierced by the swords of a trillion angels is among the greatest of all mysteries! We give him death, and he gives us his Body and Blood on the altar to this day. In His sacrifice we are redeemed.

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, the disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27

He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:7-8

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