It was brought to my attention at church this morning, it has been on my mind, for me therapy is letting it go in writing, so here it goes....
We who believe know the story of Jesus, we have seen movies, read the Bible, and do Bible studies in helping us to learn more about our Saviour. But here is something that we all missed, despite how much we think we have learned. What about Mary Mother of Jesus?
We know that a Virgin was consumed by the Holy Spirit and conceived a child out of wedlock, we know when was visited in a dream by Gabriel who told her whom she was carrying. We know that her fiancee was going to let her go without disgrace until he was visited in a dream and told that she was carrying Emmanuel - God saves. We know that Joseph stepfather to the Lord our God died several years prior to Jesus' ministry, and finally we know all too well the ministry itself, it is the basis of our faith and understanding of God as Christians.
Here is what we don't know, what was it like for Mary the Mother of God to walk among the crowd of people, spitting on her son, as he carried the cross. What was it like for the Mother of God to watch them hang her son, nailing him to the cross, and watching him die? What was it like for her to have her son departed of this Earth placed into her arms when he was removed from the cross? What is it like to watch your child die?
For most of us, we may never know the answer to that question, because we will go through this life never having to experience the emotion of watching our children suffer and pass on. It is easy for the masses to look up and sing in a church about death having no sting, when we have no experience in such matters, can we sing with such gusto in the company of death?
When Mary was told that she would give birth to the Son of Man, did she ever envision what that really meant? When we decide to have children of our own, do we ever consider what we would do if we lose that child? We all look upon the baby as it is born and think, yep, there is the next president of the United States, we never imagine that our children will be born to suffer to strengthen our faith.
Think of what the Saviour means to you. The love and humility you feel towards Jesus for what he did for you so that you could have a chance at eternity. Now look upon Jesus as Mary did, feeling the same humility, and at the same time confusion, because this is your child that you have known from birth that is suffering. In that time I imagine that it is difficult to feel pride in His actions, when everytime he whences in pain, you feel it too.
Unfortunately, I have asked alot of questions, and the answers, I cannot provide. I simply don't know. You see, I know some people who have no idea what it is like to have imagine any of these things, they are living it. From my point of view, they are living it well. The example Mary set for us are some large shoes to fill. It is Mary's example that we must find our Faith. Her Faith was strong when she saw her Son in all of his Glory, but it was strongest when she watched Him die, from what I have read, she never looked away.
This is not for you, it isn't even for me, this is for Jasmine, never have I seen except in the days of Jesus a child who has brought together a community and a Family with its Church than I have in the short life of Jasmine Uhl, never in my life will I ever forget the time I held her and looked upon her looking back up at me. I will be forever haunted by her gaze until such time when I can reach eternity and tell her what her life has meant to me. A child that has never spoken a word has uttered volumes of Faith in her silence. In my entire existence on this Earth will I ever have the impact on others this child has had.
'When Jesus saw his Mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his Mother, "Dear woman, here is your Son," and to the disciple, "Here is your Mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his Home. (Jn 19:26-27)
Thank you to the Uhl's for allowing us to travel this journey with you, I hope we have shown you what community really is, I hope we have shown you a Home. My prayer is that when you become to weak to take another step in this journey, you will realize that we are still there to carry you, and our door will always be open to you.
Much love, JT
We who believe know the story of Jesus, we have seen movies, read the Bible, and do Bible studies in helping us to learn more about our Saviour. But here is something that we all missed, despite how much we think we have learned. What about Mary Mother of Jesus?
We know that a Virgin was consumed by the Holy Spirit and conceived a child out of wedlock, we know when was visited in a dream by Gabriel who told her whom she was carrying. We know that her fiancee was going to let her go without disgrace until he was visited in a dream and told that she was carrying Emmanuel - God saves. We know that Joseph stepfather to the Lord our God died several years prior to Jesus' ministry, and finally we know all too well the ministry itself, it is the basis of our faith and understanding of God as Christians.
Here is what we don't know, what was it like for Mary the Mother of God to walk among the crowd of people, spitting on her son, as he carried the cross. What was it like for the Mother of God to watch them hang her son, nailing him to the cross, and watching him die? What was it like for her to have her son departed of this Earth placed into her arms when he was removed from the cross? What is it like to watch your child die?
For most of us, we may never know the answer to that question, because we will go through this life never having to experience the emotion of watching our children suffer and pass on. It is easy for the masses to look up and sing in a church about death having no sting, when we have no experience in such matters, can we sing with such gusto in the company of death?
When Mary was told that she would give birth to the Son of Man, did she ever envision what that really meant? When we decide to have children of our own, do we ever consider what we would do if we lose that child? We all look upon the baby as it is born and think, yep, there is the next president of the United States, we never imagine that our children will be born to suffer to strengthen our faith.
Think of what the Saviour means to you. The love and humility you feel towards Jesus for what he did for you so that you could have a chance at eternity. Now look upon Jesus as Mary did, feeling the same humility, and at the same time confusion, because this is your child that you have known from birth that is suffering. In that time I imagine that it is difficult to feel pride in His actions, when everytime he whences in pain, you feel it too.
Unfortunately, I have asked alot of questions, and the answers, I cannot provide. I simply don't know. You see, I know some people who have no idea what it is like to have imagine any of these things, they are living it. From my point of view, they are living it well. The example Mary set for us are some large shoes to fill. It is Mary's example that we must find our Faith. Her Faith was strong when she saw her Son in all of his Glory, but it was strongest when she watched Him die, from what I have read, she never looked away.
This is not for you, it isn't even for me, this is for Jasmine, never have I seen except in the days of Jesus a child who has brought together a community and a Family with its Church than I have in the short life of Jasmine Uhl, never in my life will I ever forget the time I held her and looked upon her looking back up at me. I will be forever haunted by her gaze until such time when I can reach eternity and tell her what her life has meant to me. A child that has never spoken a word has uttered volumes of Faith in her silence. In my entire existence on this Earth will I ever have the impact on others this child has had.
'When Jesus saw his Mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his Mother, "Dear woman, here is your Son," and to the disciple, "Here is your Mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his Home. (Jn 19:26-27)
Thank you to the Uhl's for allowing us to travel this journey with you, I hope we have shown you what community really is, I hope we have shown you a Home. My prayer is that when you become to weak to take another step in this journey, you will realize that we are still there to carry you, and our door will always be open to you.
Much love, JT
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Very well expressed my friend...very well indeed.
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