...I Watch Mary....

I've been listening to this off and on most of yesterday, after Mario St Francis (and then also Rene) had it on their Facebook walls...thanks to both of you.

I keep watching Mary....

For many years now, I have thought of her during this time of the year, as we draw closer to Good Friday.

I have one son. I have two daughters. I could not imagine standing outside the area after the arrest of any ONE of my children, much less my only son, as she did.

I could not imagine watching Him carry a cross to certain death when I KNEW he was not guilty ...and KNEW that He could stop it at any time just by calling down an army of Angels.... all the while, also knowing He would not do it... but also knowing that He was going through this for the sins of all human beings from the beginning to the end of humanity-- willingly laying down His life.

Worthy is the Lamb.... worthy is the Lamb.... you are HOLY!

I watch Mary, and know that for this film, Gibson chose a Jewish woman to fill the role of Miriam.

I watch Mary, knowing also that the scene shows her grabbing two handfuls of dirt, clutching...standing... slowly releasing the dirt... all the while watching her Son being nailed to that Cross, and dying...

I watch Mary KNOWING that she would have done the same thing if I were the only person who needed to be saved.

I watch Mary watch her Son give His life for me, knowing that HE would also do it if I were the only one.......

Worthy is the Lamb.... Worthy is the Lamb....Worthy is the Lamb....

...and I watch Mary.... and I'd have begged my child to stop....

Maia Morgenstern is the actress who portrayed Mary (Miriam) in the movie. She is also Jewish. I watched an interview she did long ago about this film. There were at least two suggestions that she had contributed to the film that added to it, IMHO.

One of the questions asked at the Seder, usually by the youngest at the table who is able to... "Why is this night different from all other nights?"

In the beginning of the movie, Miriam (Mary) awakens suddenly and asks this question with dread, sensing that something is very wrong. Mary Magdalene gives her a traditional response.

John comes soon after and tells her that Jesus has been arrested...

The second suggestion came when she mentioned how women in the Middle East often express real, profound grief by grabbing handfuls of dirt and throwing it over their shoulder... In the movie, as Jesus is being put on the Cross, Miriam (Mary) slowly takes two handfuls of dirt, stands, and later, slowly releases the dirt as she watches her Son, dying......

And I watch Miriam (Mary) as she races to him, kisses his feet, then after He is removed from the Cross, she holds Him across her lap in her arms...and she looks out at me... watching her hold her only Child.


Worthy is the Lamb.... You are Holy!

LORD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER!

God bless!