THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of 24^th week in Ordinary Time, 2021

Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows

1Tim 3:1-13

Ps 111

John 19:25-27

Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows

Woman Behold Your Son

Dear friends in Christ, what sorrow can surpass that of a mother watching helplessly her child in the pains of death. Think of the sorrows of many mothers sitting by the bed of their dying children, unable to help the situation, simply content with praying that a miracle does happen. Think of the situations of many mothers in the war-torn areas of our world today, watching their children helplessly gunned down or battered by bombs, mothers who are taking the risky trips, in search of safer environments for their kids. The one who truly feels their pain is the one who has been through it all, the new Eve, the Mother of Jesus.

Today we celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows, just a day after celebrating the Triumph of the Cross. The devotion flourished in the Middle Ages and the song which we sing at the Stations of the Cross devotion, “The Stabat Mater—At the Cross her station keeping” was particularly composed for this devotion. The hymn reflects on the sorrows of the Mother of the Lord, while His passion lasted.

In the first reading of today (1Timothy 3:1-13) Paul admonishes his readers that only those who are disciplined and who can manage their own families, have any business with the running of the Church. Paul was obviously writing at the very early stage of the Church and before the introduction of celibacy as a discipline for those embracing the priesthood. The family is the testing ground of administration. It is very easy to blame those who are in public office but often what they do there is a reflection of how they run their own homes.

In the Gospel (John 19:25-27) we come to the peak of the sufferings of Jesus and that of the mother. Under the shadow of that cross were, “his mother, and his mother’s sister; Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Just like we pray at the Stations, “It is harder to watch the pains of those we love, than to bear our own pains.” The sorrows of the Mother increases that of the Son, just as the pains of the Son multiplies that of the Mother. Two hearts united in love for the salvation of the world but also united in suffering. Mary bore it all with great courage. It had been prophesied at the presentation that, ‘a sword will pierce her own heart also.’ Now it has come! She got in place of her son, -John- a disciple, but now she becomes the Mother of all the disciples, her sorrow magnified, her maternal role multiplied. Soon after as in the pieta, she will be handed the lifeless body of her Son taken down from the cross.

Think now of the sorrows of many mothers around the world. How have you contributed to such sorrows? What can you do to give the mothers around you, joy in place of sorrow and sadness? "Is there one who would not weep, whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ's dear Mother to behold "

Let us Pray: Mary, dearest Mother, be the comfort of all mothers who are in sorrow over their children. Amen.

+Remain blessed