Today is the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Gospels, particularly the Gospels of John and Luke, bring out the sorrows and pains that Mary had to endure as she saw the great suffering of her Son. When Jesus’ parents presented him in the Jerusalem Temple the prophet Simeon foretold Mary’s suffering:
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35).
Mary, with Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala, was standing by the cross and witnessed and experienced the great suffering her Son was undergoing. What a terrible burden she had to endure! As we hear in today’s Gospel Jesus showed the same concern for Mary as Mary showed to him. He entrusted the care of his mother to the so-called “beloved disciple.”
“Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27).
Mary shared in both the joys and sufferings of her Son. St. Paul reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and like Mary we share in both the joy and the suffering of other members of the Body:
“If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).
Today on this memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows we pray for all mothers that God may guide them and fill them with joy and peace. We pray especially for those mothers who are suffering: those who feel overly burdened, those who endure the suffering of their children, and those who have lost a child. May God give them comfort and strength. Jesus says to each of us as we remember Mary and our own mothers: “Behold, your mother.”
Image: “Mary, Mother of Jesus PA140680” by Chris Light is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.