Most of us want to be known, understood, and loved for who we are. Yet if the “thoughts of our hearts” were truly revealed, would we want to hide quickly for what would now be available for everyone to see?
Would I want you to see what I really think of you when I was
being polite and seemingly thoughtful in an earlier conversation? Do I really
want anyone to see the fear I harbor in my heart, the distrust I feel toward certain
people or groups? The grudging acts that seem to be good deeds?[1]
Simeon tells Mary that her son is destined for greatness; he
will be more than merely a prophet or leader. Jesus will reveal what is truly
in our hearts—and by extension, our minds.
This memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows is dedicated to the spiritual
martyrdom of Mary and her compassion with the sufferings of her Son. As Mary stood at the foot of the Cross, on
which Jesus hung, the sword of sorrow Simeon had foretold pierced her soul.
In Mary’s suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the
tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true
repentance[2] as she pondered in her heart each milestone of
Jesus’ life which included seven sorrows as only seen through a Mother’s eyes
& heart:
- The
prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:25-35) Great will he be, but a contradiction
and revealing of hearts…
- The
flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15) Fleeing from those who desire to destroy
him…
- Loss
of the Child Jesus for three days (Lk 2:41-50) Those of us who are parents know the
sorrow of loosing sight of our child even for a moment…
- Mary
meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Lk 23:27-31; Jn 19:17) Beaten, bloodied and carrying the instrument
of his death and the weight of the world’s sin…
- Crucifixion
and Death of Jesus (Jn 19:25-30) Jesus pays the price for our sins…
- The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Ps 130; Lk 23:50-54; Jn 19:31-37) and placed in his grieving mothers’ arms…
- The burial of Jesus (Is 53:8; Lk 23:50-56; Jn 19:38-42; Mk 15:40-47) Sealed in the tomb a seeming end to His live and any hope of salvation…
Yet most important to remember is that with each new
suffering Mary received them with the courage, love, and trust that echoed her
fiat, “May it be done unto me according to your word,” (Lk 1:38) first uttered at the Annunciation.[3]
Paul makes a key statement about the inclusive nature of the Spirit-gifted Christian community: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, [Democrat, Republican, or No Party Affiliation] and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:13)[4] God knows what is in our hearts, and we can turn to and embrace Mary’s radical model of discipleship in service to her Son. This is agape, the unconditional love that reveals the true thoughts of hearts.
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