Virgin Mary’s Participation in the Passion of her Son

 

Virgin Mary becomes a gift to us by her participation in her Son’s passion.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year I and the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrow, September 15th, 2023
Texts: 1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8,11; John 19:25-27 

Today we remember Virgin Mary’s participation in the passion of her Son, Jesus Christ. We acknowledge and honour a mother who dared to stay with her son in trying times. Can we just imagine what was her experience at foot of the Cross? She is certainly far from laughing. She would be sad, distressed, sorrowful. We could see tear rolling down her cheeks and feeling the pains of her Son. She suffered with her son in her soul; she suffered emotionally. Virgin Mary felt the pain of nails in her hands and legs. She felt the pain of the sword passing through her soul. 

Virgin Mary’s participation in the passion of her Son makes her understand the depth of human suffering. Her understanding and God’s help to her in the moment of her sorrow make her source of help to all. St. Paul says, “The Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ” (2Cor. 1:3-5). 

Virgin Mary becomes a gift to us by her participation in her Son’s passion

We do not just honour Virgin Mary, today, but also call on us all to approach her for help. She is the throne of grace, source of help. Virgin Mary is not a mother who is unable to sympathize with us in our weaknesses; we have in her one who has been tested in every respect as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (cf. Heb. 4:15-16). Hence, Virgin Mary becomes a gift to us by her participation in her Son’s passion. We thank God for making her such a gift to us. 

Today’s celebration also reminds us that participation in Christ’s passion is rewarding. In the word of St. Paul: “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him (Rom. 8:17). St. Peter puts it thus: But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet. 4:13). Hence, we should be happy when we share from Christ’s passion, for the reward is great. 

Prayer 

O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering, grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke