relations that were integral in his life. As he emptied
Himself of his divinity to take on the human nature, so on
the cross he allows himself to be stripped, not only of his
clothes, but of all meaningful relations. The disciple
friends, except for John and the few women standing there
under the cross, had deserted him. Standing there also
with them was his mother, Mary. As death will temporarily
separate Mother and Son, Jesus is to experience total
abandonment, which sin brings about. Thus, before
allowing that separation with Mary to take place, he
entrusts her to John and all of us, through John, to her.
"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother." The
sword that would pierce her side, predicted by Simeon, is
now felt. Both Jesus and Mary embraced that separation.
It was the completion of Mary's words: "Behold the
handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your
word."  We cannot begin to imagine or understand the depth of pain that Jesus and Mary felt at this separation.