mothers...pray for us - 2nd week wednesday 2019

The mother of James and John is Salome.  It is said that when Zebedee her husband died, when she became a widow, Salome followed Christ together with her sons. St. John Chrysostom said that though she was very old she followed the Lord because faith never grows old and the desire to serve the Lord does not fade and does not falter.  Thus Salome is one of the women who followed the Lord caring for his needs and that of the disciples.

But in this passage St. John Chrysostom asks, why is it that Salome was just corrected by Jesus but Peter was openly and even angrily rebuked by the Lord?  Salome was just told, you do not know what you are asking, but Peter was told get behind me Satan.  Why?

St. John Chrysostom said, the request may have been inconsiderate but the wish was commendable. Ang pagpangayo nga papungko-an sa wala kag sa tuo indi nami, sa pagkamatuod ang mga gintuton-an nag-irinaway tungod sini, it is inconsiderate; apang Siling ni John Chrysostem, ang hangad, ang handum  sang isa ka iloy nga ang iya mga kabataan mangin kaupod ni Kristo sa ginharian, maayo gid.  This is the reason why the rebuke was way, way milder than that of Peter, because Salome’s request may have been inconsiderate but her wish for her children was commendable. Tani amo ini ang tanan nga mga iloy, that like Salome they would desire that over and above everything good in this world, they would wish and therefore work so that their children can serve Jesus and the kingdom.

Thus, St. John Chrysostom said, "let us therefore ask our mothers that they may make their prayers and petition for us in their own person, for the Lord himself, who has filled the souls of mothers with affection to their offspring, will more readily listen to their desires." 

Yesterday I appealed to the fathers of the parish.  Now also in this season of Lent, in this church filled with women saints, both virgins and mothers, headed by no less than the Grandmother of our Lord, let us ask the women in our parish, mothers and all, to pray for us, to pray for your husbands, your children, your fathers and your brothers.