Today we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as our Lady of Sorrows. Mary’s sorrows flowed intimately from the life and passion of Jesus Christ. As the Mother, her life was ‘mingled’ with that of her Son, such that she participated in her life, suffering and glory. Her privileged choice as the Mother of Jesus did not save her for the sorrows that came with it. Of course, this qualified her as the Mother of all Believers to be our model and to help us in our every sorrow.
Meditating on her life as Our Lady of Sorrows, imagine the surprise visit of the Angel and the message that shook her so much that Gabriel had to calm her down not to be afraid. Think about the emotional trauma she went through as Joseph contemplated whether to ‘expose’ her or send her packing quietly. The birth time was not easy at all as she battled with labour pains while Joseph looked for any available space in the inn. Think about the moment of the presentation in the Temple as their joy was swallowed up in Simeon’s prophecy. The words of the old man sounded like arrows in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She indeed was bathed with sorrows as we see her on the painful escape journey to Egypt. But the loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple exposed in a more concrete way the extent of her sorrows for the Child Jesus (Lk 2:34-35; Mt 2:13-14; Lk 2:43-45).
The birth of Jesus was not the end, but just the beginning of Mary’s motherhood. All through Jesus' public ministry She continued to care for Him as she would travel far to look for Him. The passion of Jesus marked the height of Mary’s sorrows. Think about the meeting of Jesus and Mary as He made His way slowly to Calvary. The hitting of the nails during the crucifixion of Jesus sounded like sharp arrows in the Heart of Mary. The taking down of Jesus’ body from the Cross and the burial brought unimaginable sorrows to Mary (Mt 12:47;Lk 23:27; Jn 19: 18, 25-27; Mk 15:43-46).
Our Lady of Sorrows, the Sorrowful Mother—Mater Dolorosa—is no less the joyful Mother. Her sorrows did not silent the echoes of her magnificat. Her soul continued to magnify the Lord even as she matched from one sorrow to another. This is because she embraced her vocation and whatever unfolded from within it as the will of God. ‘Let it be to me as you have said’ is the ultimate disposition that kept her going until she stood at the foot of the Cross of Jesus. Let us learn from Mary, and lean on her as our Model and Mother. With her motherly help, we shall triumph over all our sorrows. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday September 15th,
2020.
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.
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