The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, challenge us to contemplate the coexistence of suffering and sorrow with the journey to full life in Jesus.
The reading from the First Letter of Timothy expresses Paul’s gratitude for Mercy.
* [1:12–17] Present gratitude for the Christian apostleship leads Paul to recall an earlier time when he had been a fierce persecutor of the Christian communities (cf. Acts 26:9–11) until his conversion by intervention of divine mercy through the appearance of Jesus. This and his subsequent apostolic experience testify to the saving purpose of Jesus’ incarnation. The fact of his former ignorance of the truth has not kept the apostle from regarding himself as having been the worst of sinners (1 Tm 1:15). Yet he was chosen to be an apostle, that God might manifest his firm will to save sinful humanity through Jesus Christ (1 Tm 1:16). The recounting of so great a mystery leads to a spontaneous outpouring of adoration (1 Tm 1:17).
* [1:15] This saying is trustworthy: this phrase regularly introduces in the Pastorals a basic truth of early Christian faith; cf. 1 Tm 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tm 2:11; Ti 3:8. (1 Timothy, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
The CCCB offers a reading from Hebrews that identifies obedience through suffering.
* [5:7] He offered prayers…to the one who was able to save him from death: at Gethsemane (cf. Mk 14:35), though some see a broader reference (see note on Jn 12:27).
* [5:8] Son though he was: two different though not incompatible views of Jesus’ sonship coexist in Hebrews, one associating it with his exaltation, the other with his preexistence. The former view is the older one (cf. Rom 1:4). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 16 is a song of Trust and Security in God.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Simeon declares to Mary that a sword will pierce your soul (heart) at the Presentation of Jesus..
* [2:35] (And you yourself a sword will pierce): Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus (Lk 2:34). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it” (Lk 11:27–28 and Lk 8:20–21). (Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares to the Beloved Disciple “Here is your mother”.
* [19:26–27] This scene has been interpreted literally, of Jesus’ concern for his mother; and symbolically, e.g., in the light of the Cana story in Jn 2 (the presence of the mother of Jesus, the address woman, and the mention of the hour) and of the upper room in Jn 13 (the presence of the beloved disciple; the hour). Now that the hour has come (Jn 19:28), Mary (a symbol of the church?) is given a role as the mother of Christians (personified by the beloved disciple); or, as a representative of those seeking salvation, she is supported by the disciple who interprets Jesus’ revelation; or Jewish and Gentile Christianity (or Israel and the Christian community) are reconciled. (John, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
Angela Maynard cannot imagine anything more devastating than what Mary witnessed during the crucifixion.
I can only imagine the daily suffering she endured as she watched her son experience endless mockery as he spread the word of His Father.
As a mother, I look to Mary often—usually in a time of worry or need. She’s always there and brings me a sense of calm and direction. I have prayed to her through my career to be with those mothers who have lost children, and for those who are dealing with difficulties related to their children. (Maynard, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Mary stood at the cross with her Son Jesus,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"Mary, the mother of the Lord, stood by her Son's cross. No one has taught me this but the holy Evangelist John. Others have related how the earth was shaken at the Lord's passion, the sky was covered with darkness, the sun withdrew itself (Matthew 27:45) and how the thief was, after a faithful confession, received into paradise (Luke 23:43). John tells us what the others have not told, how the Lord while fixed on the cross called to his mother. He thought it was more important that, victorious over his sufferings, Jesus gave her the offices of piety than that he gave her a heavenly kingdom. For if it is the mark of religion to grant pardon to the thief, it is a mark of much greater piety that a mother is honored with such affection by her Son. 'Behold,' he says, 'your son.' ...'Behold your mother.' Christ testified from the cross and divided the offices of piety between the mother and the disciple...
"Nor was Mary below what was becoming the mother of Christ. When the apostles fled, she stood at the cross and with pious eyes beheld her Son's wounds. For she did not look to the death of her offspring but to the salvation of the world. Or perhaps, because that 'royal hall' [Mary as bearer of the divine King] knew that the redemption of the world would be through the death of her Son, she thought that by her death she also might add something to that universal gift. But Jesus did not need a helper for the redemption of all, who saved all without a helper. This is why he says, 'I am counted among those who go down to the pit. I am like those who have no help' (Psalm 88:4-5). He received indeed the affection of his mother but sought not anothers help. Imitate her, holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son set forth so great an example of maternal virtue. For neither have you sweeter children, nor did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able to bear another son." (excerpt from LETTER 63.109-11) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 19:25-27 comments that Mary shows us that faith, strength, and courage are possible even in the face of deep sorrow—even suffering that perhaps no one else understands. Just as she stood by Jesus as he hung on the cross, she stands by us in our sadness and pain.
“Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). Mary is not only Jesus’ mother; she is our mother, too. She wraps her arms around us, intercedes for us, and gives us consolation in our times of greatest need.
“Holy Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, you never leave my side. Thank you for understanding and being with me through every trial.” (Meditation on John 19:25-27, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the theology of the Church in the Pastoral Letters (including to Timothy) that is more developed than that of Paul and suggests that these letters were not written by Paul. The adoption of Mary by the Beloved Disciple at the human level has resulted in different understanding of the end of life of Mary by the Church in the East and in the West. Friar Jude reminds us of the Jewish understanding of heart and the difficulty for Mary to accept the Word that pierces the heart where we think.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces cofounder of the Wild Church Network, Victoria Loorz who introduces “edge walkers” who connect across faith traditions. Loorz reminds us that mystics stand at the edges.
Every religion has an edge where the mystics live. I once attended a conference organized by Ed Bastian, a Buddhist mystic whose calling is defined by his deep respect for and encouragement of interfaith spirituality. He gathered spiritual leaders from diverse traditions to consider what we had most in common: living on the same planet….
We talked about how our faith traditions could connect us with the actual soil and water and creatures of Earth. And how that connection could be a spiritual foundation for the environmental movement. What I remember most was a golden thread of mystical connection with divine presence that all of us expressed in our relationships with the natural world. Even in our diversity, we all felt that we had more in common with one another—edge walkers from other traditions—than we did with people more firmly planted in the center of our own faiths…. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder suffering, loss, and sorrow on our journey as we contemplate the role of these human experiences in our faith.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/5
John, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?25
Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?
Maynard, A. (2023, September 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/091523.html
Meditation on John 19:25-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/15/782782/
1 Timothy, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/1?
Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/edge-walking-2023-09-15/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Standing by the Cross of Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep15a
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