1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33
Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
John 19:25-27
Or Luke 2:33-35
Today, right in the midst of Sundays after Trinity , we're suddenly plunged into Good Friday by today's Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Today we go to Calvary and we see Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary did not run away from Calvary. She did not shrink from keeping her station by the Cross, with its horrible spectacle of torture.
Mary stood there.
She stayed.
She watched her only Son suffer unspeakable agony,
with each breath He took.
With her own eyes, she watched Him suffer.
And she watched Him die.
Anyone who has lost a loved one ~ especially a child ~ knows how excruciatingly deep human sorrow can be.
Mary knew that kind of sorrow. It pierced her heart like a sword.
As she watched her beloved Son suffer, she suffered along with Him.
Her place in the plan of salvation was beneath the Cross, looking up to witness her only Son's agony and death. Yes, she stayed there to the end. She saw the only Son of God sacrifice His life for us.
For Mary, what bravery that took!
What endurance that required!
What exceptional grace!
Can you imagine?
In Mary, we have an example of how to suffer. We also have a true mother, given to us from the Cross itself, by the words of the Son of God Himself. When Jesus said to John, "Behold your mother," we too were given a singular gift from heaven. We too received a spiritual mother for all eternity.
Lord, thank You for the gift of Your mother, Mary, to be our own mother. Thank You for her witness at Your cross on Calvary. When we suffer, Lord, let us run to our Blessed Mother Mary. Let us know that she understands so well our suffering. She knows all our sorrows, all our trials in this life.
O Mary, when we suffer, keep us under your mantle of protection and love! Let us know that all of our sorrow here on this earth is only temporary, and that one day it will end. Until it does, show us how to unite our pain with yours and with Christ's. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo Australia
