From Mr A. Laganà

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother” (John 19:25).

Recently, I sent the following e-mail to two well-known biblical scholars: Francis J. Moloney SDB, and Scott Lewis SJ.

“Only the author of the Fourth Gospel says that ‘near the cross of Jesus stood his mother’ and other women, (John 19: 25). I remember reading somewhere that the Romans did not allow anybody near the cross of the crucified. Mark says only that ‘there were some women watching from a distance.’ (Mark 15: 40). Is it ‘historically certain’ that Jesus’ mother was beside the cross of her Son before He died?”

Francis J. Moloney was Foundation Professor of Theology at the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, (CUA), and from 1976 to 1994 Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological College, Melbourne.

Professor Moloney replied to my e-mail:

“I am no longer at CUA, but the Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Australia. The people at CUA sent this on to me.

“No, it is most unlikely ‘historically’ that the Mother of Jesus (NB not called “Mary”) was at the foot of the cross. However, it is a most important theological message about the gathering of the Church at the Cross, and the role of the Mother of Jesus as Mother of the Disciple within the Church.

“You may like to check a commentary... even my own: F. J. Moloney, The Gospel of John (Sacra Pagina 4; Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2005).

“Blessings on you and your family,

“Francis J. Moloney SDB”.

Jesuit biblical scholar, Scott Lewis, is professor of the New Testament, Regis College, Toronto. He wrote a commentary “The Gospel according to John and the Johannine Letters” (New Collegeville Bible Commentary)

I received the following long answer to my question from Fr Scott Lewis:

“Thank you for your e-mail. It is not historically certain that Mary was at the foot of the cross. As you point out, the Synoptics place the women at a distance and the disciples are not mentioned (except that they ran away!). John’s gospel is a theological and symbolic interpretation of the story of Jesus. The author wished to associate the Mother of Jesus with the Beloved Disciple – presumably the founder of the community that wrote the gospel, and to show that both have a special relationship with Jesus. The truth is theological rather than historical. You may have noticed that in John Jesus carries his own cross without help from Simon of Cyrene – John always portrays Jesus as being totally in command of himself and the situation. Also, John places the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus rather than at the end. Basically, they are different ways to tell the same wonderful story. Thank you for your question. I remember Malta fondly – I gave a retreat for the Jesuits there in 1994.

“Peace,

“Scott Lewis”.

We must constantly remind ourselves that the individual evangelists shaped, developed and pruned the tradition they received and oriented that tradition to a particular goal. Most likely none of the evangelists was an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus. All were what we may call second generation Christians.

Alfred Laganà

ZABBAR