I've heard people speak of the emotional nature of women. While I was compiling these pages I became aware of how strong they are. I dedicate this day then to the memory of the women who served. To her who gave birth to him, cleaned his baby body, healed his baby wounds, protected and fed him before she protected and fed herself. To them who walked the Holy Land with Him and his disciples. Referred to by the Apostles as 'the women who came with him'. To them who fed the disciples, who cleaned them, who listened to him, and, finally, to those who had the courage to be with him to the very end, close by as the apostles, aside from John, did not quite have the courage to do.
These wrapped his body in fine linen, with sweet herbs. They performed the Mitzvah fulfilling the Jewish duty of burying within twelve hours of the death. They did it for love.
Let others discuss the prophecy fulfilled, the miracle wrought. The real death. These heard His words and did them. Let Him who would be great among you be as one who serves. Let Him have the heart of a child. The child who will be with the one he loves no matter what else is going on.
These were with Him when the going was rough. They did because, when it comes to real love, emotion is not ever enough.
John was there. The Beloved. There was Mary, his mother.
Mary and Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of Joses and James, Mary the wife of Cleopas The mother of Zebedee's children and Salome .. their names are written in the gospels, we should believe their words. They were strong enough to stand, and stand well.
Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory - and for those who have the ears to hear and the eyes to see, neither Kingdom nor Power nor Glory will ever have meaning again as the world understands it.
|