Poor Potsherd

Books, Christianity, Parenting, Homeschooking, Classical Education and what have you

  • Home
  • About
    • About this Website
    • What We Believe
  • Blog
  • Index of Books and Posts
  • Resources and Links
  • My Blog Project

Woman, Behold Your Son

Books Mentioned

  • Death on a Friday Afternoon by Richard John Neuhaus

Jesus in his third word from the cross makes provision for his mother by committing her to the care of his disciple John. In this meditation from Death On A Friday Afternoon: Meditations On The Last Words Of Jesus From The Cross, R. J. Neuhaus discusses Mary’s role in the story of Jesus.

It is no secret that Catholics have a special place in their hearts for Mary. And Neuhaus, as a Catholic priest, gives Mary a very Catholic respect. But it has been oft commented on that Protestants have in many cases overreacted to the Catholic view of Mary by making her role less than it actually was—of almost relegating her to little more than a character in a Nativity play.

But Neuhaus makes the point that the watchword of Mary should be ours. Her watchword is what she told the servants at the wedding at Cana:

Do whatever he tells you.

But there is more to Mary than even that. Neuhaus calls Mary the “nexus, the meeting point between the Divine and human in Jesus Christ.” He ponders how Mary yielded her will from the first assent to the Angel’s message— “Let it be as you say”— to the silent assent to Jesus’ request of her and John.

How her faith must have been tested as she stood at the foot of the cross and remembered the words of the angelic messenger:

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…and of His kingdom there will be no end.

No doubt, all the disciples had to be wondering how Jesus’ life and ministry had come to such an end. But Mary had heard directly from the agent of God. It certainly had to feel at that moment that there was not going to be any unending kingdom. Yet she stayed till the bitter end, watching.

And she waited.

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Easter, Good Friday March 22, 2016 By Poor Potsherd Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What is a Poor Potsherd?

A potsherd, of course, is a piece of broken pottery and is used as a simile in the Bible.
It is also found in this hopeful poem by G. M. Hopkins.
Read more....

Link to That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and of the comfort of the Resurrection

Archives

Site Terms

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertising Notice

Copyright © 2025 · Poor Potsherd · WordPress · Log in