Tuesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time. Year II (Our Lady of Sorrows). 1 Cor. 12:12-14,27-31; John 19:25b-27
We just celebrated the feast of the Exaltation or Triumph of the Cross, and today is Our Lady of Sorrows. These are somewhat unusual celebrations, right? Well, not so much. Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows flourished in the middle ages, and has continued till date. The Seven Sorrows of Mary represent the intense suffering and anguish experienced by Mary as the mother of Jesus: The Prophecy of Simeon; The Flight into Egypt; The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple; Mary Meets Jesus Carrying his Cross; The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus; Mary Receives the Body of Jesus Taken Down from the Cross; and The Burial of Jesus.
Friends, in today’s gospel reading, Mary is standing beside the Cross of her son, Jesus Christ. She stands by His side through His many sufferings. Remember those words from the stations of the cross, “my mother sees me whipped, she sees me kicked and driven like a beast, she sees me disgraced. But she did not utter a word of protest or complaint, she shares my martyrdom?” These words summarise today’s celebration. Just as a sword pierced through Mary’s heart, so also we too will have to bear suffering and persecution for Christ’s sake. This is how we aspire for the higher gifts. Are we ready to accept our own trials and tribulations on account of the Gospel?
God bless day week ahead. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.
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