Breaking the Word

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.  (Lk 8:1-3 )

Jesus journeyed from place to place. He never made any place as his centre for ministry. Ministry was more important for him than the place of ministry and he did not want to be tied down to a place. No one place was better for him than the other. His mission was to preach and proclaim. He was proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. It was that the kingdom of God was at hand, among them and within them.

Accompanying were the twelve. The twelve were the witnesses to what was happening around. This was the reason that later on they could bear witness to what had happened in the life of Jesus. To be witnesses and to continue the mission of Jesus accompanying was essential. Accompanying included observing and absorbing. This accompanying led them to be later missionaries.

There were also women who accompanied Jesus. They also named like the case of the apostles. They accompanied because they healed by Jesus or they received certain favours from him (they had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities). They were also many women who accompanied Jesus and their main purpose was to provide for him on his journey. 

So they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be," in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled (that says): "They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots." This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (Jn 19:25-27)

Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother Mary. She never said a word at the foot of the cross. She never accused the Romans or those who persecuted her son or mocked him. She just stood by the cross. She never even pleaded the innocence of her son. She neither spoke for her son nor spoke against his son’s enemies. She stood there swallowing all the evil in the surroundings and probably transferred them into good reactions of love, concern, care and forgiveness.

Jesus saw his mother. She saw her standing alone. There was no one to care for her and no one to console her and no one to relate to her. She had lost everything. The only relation that she had (of her own family) was Jesus and he was dying in front of her with that everything was coming to an end so to say. Jesus even at that moment thought of what to do for her.

The disciple whom he loved was also standing there. Surely there were many people around the cross. There were the soldiers and the enemies who wanted to put him to death and there were also some who were his disciples and followers. Jesus eyes fell on his mother and his disciple whom he loved. Both of them stood there as two individuals. Jesus bound them with relationship. He said ‘your mother’ and ‘your son’.