Word to the Wise
Monday, September 15, 2008 - Our Lady of Sorrows
[1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33 and John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35]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.
The feast of the Sorrowful Mother is one of the more poignant feasts in the liturgical calendar. The image of Mary at the foot of the cross and the words of the "sequence" known as the STABAT MATER, have served as powerful inspirations in Christian art and music over the centuries. Unquestionably they have touched many a heart. The choice of gospel passages - one from the actual crucifixion scene and the other from the beginning of Jesus' life - show Mary as a faithful disciple who would have to endure much for the sake of her son. Any mother can identify with that fate! One of the sorrows that I have heard people who are suffering painful illness express is the "trouble" they think they are giving to their friends and relatives! I have to remind them and myself that suffering endured alone is far more painful. This is what makes a hospital visit occasionally awkward! Perhaps this feast can remind us of our duty to "accompany" others in their suffering. Standing by a hospital bed or sitting next to a grieving person can be much like standing at the foot of the cross. It is hard, but it is the kind of love that marks a true disciple. AMEN
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