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Our Sorrowful Mother
Sep
14
Written by:
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Solemnity of Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14, 2008
Near the cross stood his mother... and the disciple whom Jesus loved.
John 19:25
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross; the following day is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary stands near the cross of her son as he dies in agony. What was going through her mind? We know what was going through her heart! A sword, just as Simeon had predicted it would 33 years earlier when Jesus was presented in the temple. What mother or father would not have their hearts pierced by a sight like this?
As she kept vigil under the cross of her son, Mary must have reflected on the archangel Gabriel's lofty promises to her at the annunciation: of how Jesus "would be great and called Son of the Most High, and his reign would have no end" (Lk 1:33). This was not how she thought things would be 33 years ago! Mary alone fully knew who her son really was, and of the dire consequences for her people his rejection would entail. She also knew that his death was necessary, and would be for our salvation. Above all else, she was his mother.
Jesus, reigning from his cross, is the salvation of those who would later believe in him. His death on the cross gives infinite meaning to our own daily crosses. And from his cross, Jesus gave his mother to "the disciple whom Jesus loved," the only one who remained with Jesus to the end. Mary thus becomes our own spiritual mother, too. Mary remains, also for us, our sorrowful mother.
In our own sorrows, our misfortunes, our crises, our sins and failures, we know we have a mother who will guide us back to her son. She will not shield us from the pain, anymore than she was shielded from it. But she knows where to lead us. She leads us to the cross of her son, time and again; for only here do our own sufferings find real meaning. When our sufferings are united with his sufferings, they are invested with love, and love gives meaning.
Mary guides us to her son in many ways. She advises us to "do whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5); through the rosary she accompanies us through the mysteries of her son's life, death and resurrection; like her, we are called to ponder the scriptures in our heart each day. Mary is our mother, not only in good times, but especially in our sorrows.
Father Gary
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