TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 - FEAST OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS 

 1TIMOTHY 1:15-17

    Beloved: This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  Of these I am the foremost.  But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.  To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

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JOHN 19:25-27

   Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 

   When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he 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.

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Perhaps the worse experience a mother can go through is to watch her child die.  Increase the severity of that experience by the death being the result of the incredible cruelty of crucifixion and the immensity of the suffering of Mary is apparent.  The faith of Mary at the Annunciation allowed God's plan of salvation to continue, though certainly Mary would not fully understand all the implications of that act of faith.  That's what makes it an act of faith.  One could argue that the compassion of God could have allowed Mary to end her journey on earth before witnessing her Son's gruesome death, but Mary's role in salvation history is much more involved than that.  She was not just the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, but the mother of God.  She was not just the first teacher of her Son, but the first student as well.  She was not just the mother who nourished her Son at her breast, but was the first to drink of the life-giving waters of discipleship. 

Even more important for us today is the role assigned to Mary by Jesus at the cross.  As Jesus gives the care of Mary to John, "Behold, your mother."  He also gives to Mary the care of the Church, "Woman, behold, your son."  The practical necessity of giving the care of his mother to his beloved disciple reflects the cultural realities of a childless widow in first century Israel.  Mary would need to be cared for.  (This also assuages the notion that Mary had other children.)  By giving the care of Mary to John, Jesus also gives the care of John to Mary, and through him all the Church.  Through her suffering Mary becomes the mother of the Church and each of the Church's faithful.  Having given birth to the Savior of the world Mary now helps to give birth to His Church.  After her Assumption into heaven, Mary becomes the Mediatrix for the Church and her children before her Son.

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Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Deacon Ed
canadced.com