Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
As a Lay Marianist and someone who works at an institution run by the Marianist order (the University of Dayton), today’s Gospel reading from John holds a lot of significance. Vowed religious and members of the Marianist family across the world make an effort to say a prayer called the Three O’Clock prayer which recalls the imagery of Mary and John standing at the foot of the cross.
Whenever I recall this depiction I can’t help but think of the pain and anguish that both Mary and John, as well as the others there, endured. To see her son who she loves and raised, beat down to the point of crucifixion. And to be John, the beloved disciple, who is charged of grieving with Mary and carrying on Christ’s mission as his disciple. Both dynamics carry inconceivable emotions as I attempt to put myself in their shoes. However, the image itself of Mary and John standing in the face of injustice and continuing on as Jesus’ disciples despite his gruesome death always strikes me as a relevant and poignant challenge for me. In what ways do I, or can I, stand with others in their pain and suffering? How might I stand in the face of injustice and allow myself to be a faithful disciple?
I do admit that either my emotions or my cowardice get the best of me in these situations, leave me feeling like an unworthy disciple – similar to Paul’s description of himself in the first reading from the first letter to the Corinthians. For me the challenge becomes more than just being passionate for a specific cause or in response to injustice in our world. It becomes also figuring out how to practically, gracefully, and yet forcefully respond in a way that works for peace while standing in the face of injustice. My gut tells me that the first step in this process is having the faith to believe that God’s grace is in us, and that it works through us, and around us – allowing us to become sacraments of peace.
May these readings and our reflections today guide us closer to Mary, Our Mother and Our Lady of Sorrows, that she may help us have the faith to recognize God’s grace so that we may grow as sacraments of peace – standing with others in their pain and gracefully working to overcome injustice in our world. May we never forget that we are unworthy to be Christ’s disciples but never be paralyzed by that thought. Let us be empowered by the call to be Christ’s disciples today and beyond.
- Mike Bennett