At the foot of the cross there is a small group of women. These witnesses to Jesus' Passion keep his final words, gather his cry, see the extent of Jesus' love, and receive his last breath. But who are the women present at the foot of Jesus' cross who witnessed Jesus' death?
The evangelist John answers, writing: «Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene» (Jn 19:25-27).
The Virgin Mary
But now let us focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus, because throughout her journey with Jesus, she is always present, right up to the terrible moment of Calvary. Mary is united with Jesus' cross; she shares in the same suffering. She is the first of those who «suffer with Christ». In her heart, she suffers what her Son also suffers in his flesh.
Mary at the foot of the cross teaches us, then, to face suffering with faith, continuing to believe that it is worthwhile to love, because God will not let the good we do fall into nothingness.
On this day, let us pray and remain at the foot of the cross, so that, like Mary, we may become a living flame of faith that burns and blazes for God.
From the Passion to the Resurrection: the three women at the Holy Sepulchre
The Gospel of the Resurrection also tells us about three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mk 16:1-7), who go to the tomb early in the morning to bring aromatic oils and myrrh for Christ's body. They are referred to as the three Marys, having already been present when Jesus' body was taken down from the cross and buried by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
“They have loved much”
The women, then, are not afraid: from the Passion to the Resurrection, they remain beside Jesus.
One cannot help but ask: Why do women, led by the Virgin Mary, withstand the scandal of the cross? Why do they remain close to Jesus when everything seems to be over and even his closest disciples abandon him? Jesus gives us the answer when, replying to Simon about the sinful woman who washed and kissed his feet, he says: “She has loved much!” (Lk 7:47).
The women follow Jesus “to serve him” (Lk 8:3; Mt 27:55), and this makes them like him, who came to serve. With their great hearts, they embody the spirit of the Gospel, and with love, faith, and generosity they are Jesus’ companions on his journey and mission.
For this reason, along the journey to Calvary, their weeping is the only friendly sound that reaches the Savior’s ears; and then, at the foot of the cross, their gazes are the only ones to rest with love and compassion on the Crucified One.
Beyond tradition, then, the devout women continue to speak to us today as well: they are not only to be admired and honored, but also imitated. Just as the many religious and lay women have done and continue to do, standing beside the poor, the sick, prisoners, and all kinds of people marginalized by society. To them Christ repeats: “You did it to me” (Mt 25:40).
Thus, together with the “Three Marys,” we too can find the strength to follow the Lord by loving deeply, as we await his transforming our lives into a source of new life.
