Mary's Circle
By Ralphetta Aker McClary, Commissioned Ruling Elder, Washington Shores Presbyterian,
and CFP Anti-Racism Committee Member
John 19: 24b-27 “….Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” … (MSG)
He was innocent, guilty of no crime, yet His sentence was death. What had He done? Spoken against the establishment, reconciled the lost, conversed with women, and worked for justice? The words were simple "I find no fault with this man." Taken from Pilate's inner chamber, the Roman soldiers beat, kicked, whipped, and flogged Him. I see the images in my mind’s eye. His body torn open and bleeding, forced to carry His cross, through the streets as they spat on Him and cried, Crucify Him, Kill Him. His hands were nailed to the wooden structure—the cross—the ultimate sign of degradation on the Hill called Golgotha, they stood the cross up and hung Him. There in the crowd, looking upon her son, born in the manger many years before, stood Mary.
Scripture does not tell us her reaction; she was His earthly mother. I can see her tears of sorrow, loss, anguish, and pain. The actions of the state inflicted on her son---they were killing her son!!
His final words were for his mother, for John to care for His mother---"Woman Behold Your Son". At the point of death, He demonstrated love for His earthly mother. Then he died. Mary; Mother Mary; the Virgin Mary was left to mourn the death of her innocent son!
On that Good Day ---Mary stood and watched her son be crucified. Her sweet baby Jesus; now a man; though guilty of no crime, was beaten almost to the point of death by the body of officers representing the civil authority of government and given to be hung from a cross until dead by the religious and political leaders. Through this act of violence, a circle was created as Mary stood at the foot of the cross that transcended time. The circle consists of mothers whose innocent children have died at the hands of the “same” civil authorities that crucified Jesus Christ.
Like Mary, their child's last breaths were expended in calling/concern for them. Mothers whose sons, were guilty of no crime. Mothers whose daughters were in a state of rest. Mothers whose children were simply going about their daily activities of running or driving home. Mothers whose sons were accused of interacting with or having a conversation with women of a different race. Mothers whose children society devalues or views as less than or expendable. Mothers of brown, black, and darker-skinned children. Mothers whose faith, even amid their loss—brings them to forgiveness.
“The Matthew 25 invitation focuses on Matthew 25: 31-46, in which Jesus makes clear, that what we do matters to God and how we treat others is important to God.” “ Jesus is calling us to perform ordinary acts of compassion in daily life. In so doing, we continue Christ’s work of proclaiming release to captives and good news to the poor — the good news of God’s righteousness, justice, and peace for all.” (PCUSA: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/matthew-25/)
Our Anti-Racism Committee was created in direct response to our inaction to the murder of George Floyd. Our Presbytery met on the day of his funeral, and much like Pontius Pilate, our Presbytery was silent. We would not openly see the Circle of Mothers, Mary, Mamie, Wanda, Sybrina, Tamika, and Larcenia "standing" before us. We chose silence when a voice was demanded by scripture---we didn’t hear the words of Jesus saying “…‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:45) For these innocent children of God, created in His image, for the mothers enduring the pain of their child’s death, perpetuated by the color of their skin, or match of a “description”, …. We were voiceless. We can be silent no longer, This Holy Week, Jesus is speaking to us from the cross. Mary is there weeping for her child. The mothers of so many are there…crying, moaning, and begging for justice for their children.
Mary’s mourning turned to victory and joy on that Resurrection Sunday. Her son’s Words proved true—the temple was restored on the third day—the Son of God Lives—yet, Mary’s Circle expands. What of those mothers still living in and joining Mary’s Circle of pain and mourning? Will the Circle Be Broken—as we move from death to resurrection, from darkness to light, from Holy Week to life after death, what will our voice and response be for the least of these?
He was innocent, guilty of no crime, yet His sentence was death. What had He done? Spoken against the establishment, reconciled the lost, conversed with women, and worked for justice? The words were simple "I find no fault with this man." Taken from Pilate's inner chamber, the Roman soldiers beat, kicked, whipped, and flogged Him. I see the images in my mind’s eye. His body torn open and bleeding, forced to carry His cross, through the streets as they spat on Him and cried, Crucify Him, Kill Him. His hands were nailed to the wooden structure—the cross—the ultimate sign of degradation on the Hill called Golgotha, they stood the cross up and hung Him. There in the crowd, looking upon her son, born in the manger many years before, stood Mary.
Scripture does not tell us her reaction; she was His earthly mother. I can see her tears of sorrow, loss, anguish, and pain. The actions of the state inflicted on her son---they were killing her son!!
His final words were for his mother, for John to care for His mother---"Woman Behold Your Son". At the point of death, He demonstrated love for His earthly mother. Then he died. Mary; Mother Mary; the Virgin Mary was left to mourn the death of her innocent son!
On that Good Day ---Mary stood and watched her son be crucified. Her sweet baby Jesus; now a man; though guilty of no crime, was beaten almost to the point of death by the body of officers representing the civil authority of government and given to be hung from a cross until dead by the religious and political leaders. Through this act of violence, a circle was created as Mary stood at the foot of the cross that transcended time. The circle consists of mothers whose innocent children have died at the hands of the “same” civil authorities that crucified Jesus Christ.
Like Mary, their child's last breaths were expended in calling/concern for them. Mothers whose sons, were guilty of no crime. Mothers whose daughters were in a state of rest. Mothers whose children were simply going about their daily activities of running or driving home. Mothers whose sons were accused of interacting with or having a conversation with women of a different race. Mothers whose children society devalues or views as less than or expendable. Mothers of brown, black, and darker-skinned children. Mothers whose faith, even amid their loss—brings them to forgiveness.
“The Matthew 25 invitation focuses on Matthew 25: 31-46, in which Jesus makes clear, that what we do matters to God and how we treat others is important to God.” “ Jesus is calling us to perform ordinary acts of compassion in daily life. In so doing, we continue Christ’s work of proclaiming release to captives and good news to the poor — the good news of God’s righteousness, justice, and peace for all.” (PCUSA: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/matthew-25/)
Our Anti-Racism Committee was created in direct response to our inaction to the murder of George Floyd. Our Presbytery met on the day of his funeral, and much like Pontius Pilate, our Presbytery was silent. We would not openly see the Circle of Mothers, Mary, Mamie, Wanda, Sybrina, Tamika, and Larcenia "standing" before us. We chose silence when a voice was demanded by scripture---we didn’t hear the words of Jesus saying “…‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:45) For these innocent children of God, created in His image, for the mothers enduring the pain of their child’s death, perpetuated by the color of their skin, or match of a “description”, …. We were voiceless. We can be silent no longer, This Holy Week, Jesus is speaking to us from the cross. Mary is there weeping for her child. The mothers of so many are there…crying, moaning, and begging for justice for their children.
Mary’s mourning turned to victory and joy on that Resurrection Sunday. Her son’s Words proved true—the temple was restored on the third day—the Son of God Lives—yet, Mary’s Circle expands. What of those mothers still living in and joining Mary’s Circle of pain and mourning? Will the Circle Be Broken—as we move from death to resurrection, from darkness to light, from Holy Week to life after death, what will our voice and response be for the least of these?