Reflection/Homily for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time memorial of our lady of sorrow 15th September 2023

Homily for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time. 

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Hebrews 5:7-9. Psalm 31:1-2ab,2cd-3,4-5,14-15,19. John 19:25b-27.

Today's memorial follows immediately upon the exaltation of the Holy Cross. In doing this, the Catholic Church reminds us of the special union that Mary shared in the sacrifice of her Son on the cross of Calvary.

This memorial originated in Germany and was extended to the universal Church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1721. The Christian faithful have long meditated upon this momentous scene as it is recorded by the four Evangelists.

The essence of this memorial is to remind the Christian faithful of the spiritual martyrdom of the Mother of God and her compassion with the sufferings of her divine Son. The seven great events of sorrow in her life were: Prophecy of Simeon, Flight into Egypt, Three Days' Loss of Jesus, Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary, Mary at the Foot of the Cross, Jesus Taken Down from the Cross, and the Burial of Jesus.

In the first reading, we have it that "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplication with loud cries and tears" (Heb.5:7). In doing this on the cross of Calvary, Mary was present at the foot of the Cross.

In today's Gospel, while sharing her sorrow with her divine Son at the foot of the Cross, Jesus handed his mother to us through his beloved disciple, saying, "Woman, behold your son! Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own home (John 19:26-27).

It is one thing for a mother to live to see the death of her child, but it is even more devastating for her to witness her innocent child dying as a criminal. Very often, in a bid to comfort others for the loss of their loved ones, we say things that actually rub salt into their injury. But when you find a perfect companion in your pain, it helps in the healing process.

Mary, the comforter of the afflicted, offers us such companionship because she had been through pains and sorrows. She knows how to console us in the midst of our pains and sorrows. She does not want us to be in a position of shame and sadness. She wants our happiness. We need to allow her to intercede on our behalf. She is a mother who cares for our needs and always present them to her Son. She wants us only to do whatever Jesus tells us (cf.John 2:5). Without obedience, true discipleship will not be possible. Therefore, no matter what we are passing through, be sure that God is interested in your situation, and He will surely not leave you forsaken or abandoned.

God our Father, you willed that the compassionate Mother of your Son should stand at the foot of the Cross on which He was glorified. Grant that your Church, having shared in Christ's passion, may also participate in his Resurrection through Christ our Lord. Amen.

OR

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

(OUR LADY OF SORROWS - SEPTEMBER 15, 2023)

Heb.5:7-9; Ps.31; John 19:25b-27

Sorrows for Glory

Yesterday we joyfully celebrated the cross of Christ for by his death, the cross became for us a sign of victory. Today, we celebrate the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through her sorrows, Mary cooperated with her Son in his mission of saving the world. Consequently, she also shared in his victory. So, in celebrating the sorrows of Mary, we are celebrating too her share in the glory of her Son. Basically, there are seven sorrows of Mary:

a. *The Prophecy of Simeon* – “And you yourself a sword will pierce”(Lk.2:35) what could Simeon have meant by these words? Why will he say such to a woman who is joyful on the birth of her son? Any ordeal that is foretold is always twice killing than an ordeal that is known during its happening. A panicking heart can even give-up before the anticipated danger sets in. yet, Mary pondered all of these in heart.

b.  *The Flight into Egypt* (Matt.2:13) the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and asked him to take the child and the mother and flee to Egypt since Herod wanted to kill the child. This message was urgent even as it was fearful. The content of the message, the lengthen unprepared journey, the uncertainties of life in Egypt and so, must have aggravated the tension of the situation.

c.  *Search for the Child in Jerusalem* (Lk.2:46, 48) imagine the trouble of a mother who loses her only Son for three days. It’s even worse for Mary since this Son is a destined child specially entrusted to her by God. Such moment could have made her to regret ever accepting to be the Mother of the expected Messiah. Instead of despairing, she went about searching for the child.

d. *Mary Meets Jesus on His way to the Cross* (Lk.23:27) It is harder to watch the pain of those we love than to bear our own pains. Yet, Mary helplessly but courageously watched her only son in great agony.

e. *Standing at the Foot of the Cross* (Jn.19:25-27) Here Mary is not just watching the Son suffer, she watched him die too. She heard him cry as the nails pierced his hands and sides. She heard him breathe his last too. What a mental agony for Mary!

f. *The Crucifixion and Descent from the Cross* (Jn.19:38) Her Son was not given to her until after his death. In some cultures, parents do not witness the burial of their children because of the sorrow involved. But here is Mary given the corpse of the only son whose death she had witnessed.

g. *Assisting at the Burial of Christ* (Lk.23:55-56) To bury the dead is a corporal work of mercy. It was not easy for Mary to simultaneously play the double roles of a Mother and of a disciple of her Lord. Even in her sorrow, she simultaneously performed both roles very well.

Our business with all of these is that the sorrows of Mary were salvific; both for her and for us her children. She shared in the glory of the Lord through her Assumption and Coronation. We too shall share in the victory of the Cross when we willingly and faithfully carry our crosses daily and follow Jesus.