In today’s first reading Paul reminds us of the Gospel: “I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you.” Paul is writing in the 50’s before any of the canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) have been writing. Paul gives us the earliest content and center of the Gospel that was later enshrined in the written Gospel. Paul talks about this Gospel tradition that he himself received: “For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received…” Paul then gives the content of this tradition or early creedal statement:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles.”
The early creed highlights the vicarious or atoning death of Jesus (“Christ died for our sins”) and his resurrection (“raised on the third day”). This earliest gospel focused not on the whole life of Jesus but on his passion, death, and resurrection. This earliest gospel is a source of both sorrow and joy. Every time we hear the Passion Gospel proclaimed on Good Friday, we experience this sorrow and joy once again.
Mary, the mother of God, experienced both this joy and sorrow in a very personal way. Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. In today’s Gospel Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple. Simeon blesses the holy family and says to Mary: “you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Mary experiences the joy of the birth of Jesus but also sorrow as Jesus is rejected by some and put to death on the cross. The Gospel proclaims Jesus as the source of both sorrow and joy. Ultimately the Gospel is a message of hope and joy: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11).
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Image: “10 Ways to honor Our Lady of Sorrows this September” by aleteia.org (Public Domain).