Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
(I Timothy 1:1-2.12-14; John 19:25-27)
Mary
appears in all four gospels. She
certainly has more prominent roles in Luke and John than in Matthew and
Mark. But all four emphasize not only that
Jesus was her son but also that she had strong feelings about him. Today’s reading illustrates how Mary suffered
with Jesus hanging on the cross. In
naming the Beloved Disciple her son, Jesus assures that Mary does not suffer
alone.
The
disciple goes nameless. He is often
associated with John, Zebedee’s son, but this is a conjecture widely dismissed
by scholars today. He is both a singular
person and representative of all Christians as he forms with Mary Jesus’ new
family – the Church. Mary, however, has
greater importance. Like an anchor
holding down a ship, Mary’s presence assures us that God’s Son really became a
human being. He is not a mythological demigod
that could die and could rise at will. Jesus
underwent death for human sins and was buried.
He would have stayed in the tomb if the Father had not raised him up.
Like Jesus,
Marty knows our pains. She is ready to intercede
for us before the Father. We can see her
at the cross and trust her with our deepest hurts, anger, and losses. She will help us because she is also our
loving mother.
