September 15, 2023
(Our Lady of Sorrows)
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “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.” Lk_2:33-35
When we speak of Mary as the Mother of God, as the Mother of Jesus, as the Mother of the Church, we’re actually uniting ourselves with God, with Jesus, through Her, Mary, OUR Mother. And that unites US together, as well, as we are all Children of God and brothers and sisters to one another, through Mary and Jesus.
And yet, beyond uniting us with Mary and Jesus’s perfection, with their perseverance, and with their obedience, the Human and Divine as ONE, we also recognize that great ‘Sign of Contradiction’ that Simeon prophesied of Jesus to Mary.
Of course, we all know that this life in the flesh is not all, or always, filled with joy and happiness. Jesus knew it through His opposition by those who should have known better, and eventually through His own bitter passion and death. A death that should have been a royal crowning and exaltation instead. A true contradiction.
And Mary experienced that contradiction, as Simeon’s own predicted “Sword” piercing Her precious Heart of Love. A love of Jesus, and a love for us, torn in pain in this life, but Sacred and Immaculate in the next. Another true contradiction.
Jesus reminded us of that contradiction when he proposed for us the nine ways that God Blesses us, in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor . . .” (not the rich, famous or powerful, that the world would profess) Mt 5:3-12
And we’re also reminded of the human sorrows that our Mother Mary suffered through her Son’s persecution in contradiction to the pride she should have held in her Son’s exaltation as the Son of God.
Today WE can exalt in those sorrows of our Mother, Mary, because they strengthen us through our own human sorrows. They strengthen us with a sword that points to the Hope and the Glory of our eternal and divine life yet to come. And we pray unceasingly to Jesus through His and our sorrowful and yet, most Glorious Mother, Mary!
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Whispers to the Wind 