THE FAMILY ALTAR - F.W. Herzberger (1922)

March 28.

"When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple

standing by whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, "Woman,

behold thy son!" Then saith He to the disciple, "Behold thy

mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her unto his

own home." John 19:26-27.

Eoman Catholic expositors misinterpret these loving words

of our dying Lord to His bereaved and broken-hearted mother.

Given to the idolatrous worship of Mary and wishing to magnify

her power and glory, they maintain that the Apostle John here

represents all Christians to whom the Lord now gives Mary as

their mother that she might in future care for them, love them,

and intercede for them ! But it is very clear from our Lord's

words that He does not give John into Mary's care, but Mary

into the safekeeping of John. It is His mother that needs comfort

and protection, now that He is severing all earthly ties which

heretofore united Him with her, and is going back to the glory

which He had with His Father in heaven before the world began.

He therefore bequeaths her as a precious legacy of love to John,

who from that very hour took the mother of his Lord into his

own home, and provided for her to the end of her days. So our

gracious Lord still provides for His Christians, especially for the

lonely, the forsaken, the widows, and orphans. They are all as

near and dear to Him as was Mary, His mother. He tells us so

Himself when He asks, Matt. 12, 48— 50 : "Who is My mother?

And who are My brethren?" And stretching forth His hand

toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My

brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which

is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother."

In our Christian widows and orphans the Lord has left us a sacred

pledge of His love. Let us, therefore, provide for them, comfort

and cheer them for His dear sake, as John did with Christ's

mother, Mary.

Thou who with dying lips

Thy mother didst commend

Unto the tender care

Of Thy beloved friend;

Thou who by Lazarus' grave

In human grief didwt groan,

Turn, Lord, Thine eyes on those

Left in the world alone.

Thou who didst call Thy Twelve

Their home and friends to leave,

And in Thy kingdom all,

Yea, more than all, receive,

To those bereft of all,

Thy pitying love extend,

And let them find in Thee

Father, and home, and friend.