The Gospel according to 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.
Reflection:
Today, we remember the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title, “Our Lady of Sorrows”. Near my parish of St Rita in Sierra Madre is the Passionists Retreat Center, named Mater Dolorosa, for Our Lady of Sorrows. I’m blessed that I am able to visit the Retreat Center pretty often, as it is a beautiful and prayerful place (though maybe somewhat less so now, as there is construction now on the lower part of the property). They have a lovely garden there called the “Garden of Seven Sorrows”, highlighting the seven sorrows attributed to the Virgin Mary.
The Gospel that I read for today from John shows Mary right there at the foot of the cross, experiencing one of those Seven Sorrows, as she watched her Son die for all of us, and I can hardly imagine the pain that she felt – the deep, deep sorrow – at her Son (her “Baby Boy”) dying in such a cruel manner.
Another story came to my mind that also touched me as a parent. In October 1994, the story broke on the news about a very troubled young mother named Susan Smith who was found to have killed her two young sons, by drowning – they were strapped into their car seats, and she pushed her car into a lake, drowning them both. I can scarcely imagine that tortured soul, doing such an act to her own children. When I heard it on the radio that day, I had to pull over on the freeway, it affected me so. I prayed for Susan Smith and for her little boys, who were taken home to the Lord far too soon. I can’t say for certain, but I am quite sure that our Blessed Virgin was full of sorrow at such an act against those who were so innocent.
That’s perhaps one of the most unfathomable things – that God could allow such a thing to happen and not stop it. How do we make sense of it? My first answer is that we can’t. In our own human intellect, it is just beyond us. What possible better purpose was served by the deaths of those two small children? I can’t think of one at all. I’m reminded of a scene from the movie “The Shack”, based on William Paul Young’s book, where Mack (the main character) is talking to Sophia (representing the Wisdom of God), where he is asked to judge God’s role in the death of his daughter Missie at the hands of a serial killer. Mack asks that same question – “why didn’t God save Missie?” Sophia’s answer is “God doesn’t stop a lot of things that cause Him pain.” The one who makes these acts happen is each one of us, through the gift of free will. Just as God feels sorrow for all of those who suffer, no less does our Mother of Sorrows.
May each of us always seek to love our brothers and sisters, our children and grandchildren, and indeed, all whom God places in our presence today and every day. And, should we cause harm to another, whether intentional or not, may we know that quickly, and ask forgiveness from our all-merciful Father, that whatever pain we also inflicted on His Mother may also be healed. We are human – we will hurt others. But, we also have the power to be forgiven, and to ask forgiveness.
Let us never think that we are beyond either of those actions, for God always takes us back, even those who do unspeakable evil, provided that they are truly sorry, and willing to make up for the pain they caused, either in this life or the next. And, today, I pray again for the soul of Susan Smith, that she may be truly sorry for what she did, and may ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Imagining Susan Smith being forgiven in a way is unfathomable for me as a parent, but God’s mercy is far, FAR beyond what we know in our hearts. Let us always be thankful for that gift of mercy!
Action for the Day:
Think of the one person that you need to forgive (or the one you need most to ask for forgiveness from). Ask God in the quiet of your heart today to prompt you to take that step to forgive or to ask for forgiveness, knowing that even that act will brighten God’s heart, and the heart of our Blessed Mother as well.
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
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