Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
(I Timothy 2:1-8; John 19:25-27)
With the church killings of two schoolchildren the world
heard echoes of great sorrow. One
grandfather recalled how his heart broke when his granddaughter was slain by a
random bullet. She was the joy of his
life. He used to change her diapers as
an infant. Surely Mary, the mother of
Jesus, was feeling a very similar sadness as she watched her son die on the
cross.
Yet Jesus’ death is not unmitigated grief. Hope remains because Jesus is the Son of God,
the Lord’s Messiah. Already he has
brought something good from this most abominable act in starting the family of
Church with his mother and beloved disciple.
Somehow Mary will experience joy which will make up for all the present sorrow.
Hope is the decidedly Christian virtue that goes beyond
optimism, a sunny outlook, and beyond expectation of forces already acting on
one’s behalf. Hope is trust in God whom
we know will make things good for those who love Him.
