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Gospel Reading for September 15, 2026 – John 19: 25-27
IF WE WERE MARY
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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Mothers, even surrogate mothers, can surely empathize with what Mary was feeling at the foot of the Cross. Perhaps, if WE WERE MARY at the foot of the Cross, we would be shouting to high heaven, “Why did You allow this to happen?” Perhaps, if WE WERE MARY on the road to Calvary, we would be shouting invectives at the soldiers who were so cruel to Jesus. Perhaps, if WE WERE MARY, we would be shouting, “Ungrateful!” at those who were crying out, “Crucify Him!”
That is, IF WE WERE MARY.
But Mary was truly EXEMPLARY in her obedience to God and in her faith in her Son, Jesus. She was consistent until the very end. The things she could not understand—from Jesus’ birth to His death—she kept and pondered in her heart. We all know how painful it is to keep things in our hearts: things we want to question, things we think are unfair. This is possible only when we truly love.
When we truly love God, we do not question Him. We trust in His wisdom and His love, and we keep these things in our hearts.
On this Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, let us ask Mary to help us be like her—in her great faith in God and in her great love for God. Amen.
