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Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his home.

John 19:25–27, LSB

One might think it strange for Jesus to entrust the care of His mother to one of His disciples, knowing that His brothers could do so, but Jesus was also concerned for His mother’s spiritual welfare. Since His siblings were not believers, He entrusted His beloved disciple with the care of His mother and reordered our understanding of family as Christians. All of us have our blood family lines and the families who raised us, but, in Christ, we are united as a family and are all charged with the care of our elders within our gatherings. Our spiritual fathers and mothers with whom we have been raised in the faith. We are to treat each other with great respect and deference in Christ our Lord and be a light to one another in our times of weakness, so we may all know our Lord’s peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.