Reflection for Thursday September 15 Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows: John 19:25-27

Gospel: John 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”

Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

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Reflection:

How does it feel to see a son dying on the cross?

It must have been heart-wrenching for Mary to see her beloved Son, Jesus, dying on the cross. It must have been doubly heart-wrenching for her to hear Jesus entrusting her to the care of His beloved disciple, John.

Separation, especially the kind of separation experienced by Jesus and His mother Mary, is always painful and sorrowful. But such is life. All of us have to go through moments of pain, sorrow, and separation. No one is exempt from this reality. Whether we are rich or poor, we will all experience the pain of being separated from our loved ones.

In the midst of her sorrowful separation from her dying Son, Mary was entrusted by Jesus to the care of His beloved disciple, John. In this Gospel episode, we see the great love of Jesus for His mother. Even as He was suffering on the cross, Jesus continued to think of her and make sure that she would be cared for.

We also see the deep and enduring love of Mary for her Son, Jesus. She did not turn away from Him in His darkest hour. She remained there, faithfully standing beside Him until His final breath on the cross. Her presence speaks of a love that does not run away when suffering comes—a love that remains even when there seems to be nothing left to do but pray, endure, and stay.

Mary's sorrow reminds us that loving someone deeply also means being willing to share in their suffering. There are moments in our own lives when we may have to stand beside someone who is hurting, grieving, sick, struggling, or slowly losing hope. At such moments, our presence, our prayers, our patience, and our love can become a quiet way of carrying God's presence to them.

This Gospel also invites us to look deeply into our own relationships. How are we as sons and daughters to our mothers? Do we make them feel our love and gratitude while we still have the opportunity to do so? And for those of us who are parents, how are we loving, guiding, and caring for our children? Are we present not only during their moments of joy and success but also during their trials and failures?

Let us learn from Jesus and Mary. Let us not take our loved ones for granted. While we still have them with us, let us express our love, ask for forgiveness, offer forgiveness, and make time for them. We may not always be able to remove their pain, but we can choose to remain beside them, just as Mary remained beside Jesus.

One day, we may no longer have the opportunity to say what our hearts have long wanted to say. One day, the hands we hold today may no longer be there for us to hold. Let us therefore love while we still can, forgive while we still can, and be present while we still have the gift of time.

As we look at Mary faithfully standing beside Jesus at the foot of the cross, are we willing to remain beside our loved ones in their darkest moments—and while we still have the gift of their presence, will we make sure that they truly know how much we love them?—Marino J. Dasmarinas