Remembering the Mother of Sorrows

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

September 15, 2020: Remembering the sorrows of our Blessed Mother
Hebrews 5: 7-9; John 19: 25-27

A heart pierced with an arrow is a famous symbol today, a symbol very romantic. But there was a heart that was once told: one day a sword shall pierce you! And that heart remained patient and open, and bore that piercing for the sake of that one "yes" that was pronounced at the beginning of the string of those events.

The Mother of Sorrows is an icon that challenges us to understand the meaning of Christian living. As St. Paul would say, 'the reign of God is not a matter of food and drink, enjoyment and fun, a romantic feeling or a colourful happening'. It is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 14:17). Righteousness, requires a hunger and thirst for it (cf Mt 5:6); Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit consist of doing the will of the God, come what may. 

Following immediately the Exaltation of the Cross, the feast of today, establishes the truth that, in living a Christian life, there are a certain things clearly difficult and demanding. It requires an absolute choice to live a truly 'Christian' life  to the full. Mary was not merely the biological mother of Jesus, she was the first disciple who heard what Jesus said and put them into practice - thus becoming mother even by the definition that Jesus gave: those who hear my words and put them into practice, are my mothers, brothers and sisters. 

Mary made that choice and stuck to it right from the beginning and right up to the end and thanks to that choice, she had to undergo great traumas and odds. That is what we celebrate today. In fact, this humble but great person has shown us what it means to be a disciple of Christ, the Lord of the Cross! 

May our Blessed Mother, strengthen our spirits, increase our endurance and deepen our faith, to believe in the Lord, in and through our sufferings.