Mary at the foot of the Cross

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Twenty Fourth Week: Tuesday*

*Gospel :  Jn 19:25-27*

*First Reading : Heb 5:7-9*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 31:2 and 3b, 3cd-4, 5-6, 15-16, 20*

*Mary at the foot of the Cross*

*1) Mary teaches us to remain faithful in suffering*

Mary had accompanied Jesus throughout His life, from Bethlehem to Nazareth and through His public ministry. Now she stands at Calvary when almost everything appears to have failed.

The disciples have largely disappeared, Jesus is rejected and dying, and yet Mary remains.

There are moments in our lives when we cannot understand what God is doing—when prayer seems unanswered, when someone we love suffers, when family problems continue, or when we experience failure and loneliness

Faith does not always mean having answers. Sometimes faith simply means standing with Jesus when there are no answers.

*2) Mary shows us the meaning of a mother's love*

Mary's suffering is not only because she sees her Son physically suffering. She suffers because she loves Him deeply.

A mother's heart suffers when her child suffers. Mary cannot remove Jesus' pain, but she can give Him her presence.

Sometimes we cannot solve another person's problem. We cannot take away their illness, grief, disappointment or loneliness.

But we can be present.

A visit, a phone call, listening without judging, sitting silently beside someone who is suffering—these can become acts of love.

Mary teaches us: “When you cannot change someone's suffering, do not abandon the person who is suffering

*3) Mary did not flee from the painful reality*

Mary could have turned away from the terrible sight of Jesus on the cross. Instead, she looked at Him and remained near Him.

This is important for Christian life. We often prefer to avoid suffering, weakness and difficult realities.

We may avoid a sick family member, an elderly parent, a struggling child, a difficult relationship, or a person who needs our help because their suffering makes us uncomfortable.

Mary teaches us the spirituality of presence.

Love does not always remove suffering; sometimes love means accompanying someone through suffering.

*4) The women remained when others had gone*

John specifically mentions:

Mary, the mother of Jesus

Mary of Clopas

Mary Magdalene

and the beloved disciple

These women stand near the cross.

There is something beautiful here: they remain when remaining is difficult.

Their presence is an expression of courage.

Our faith is tested not when everything is going well, but when following Christ becomes costly.

It is easy to pray when life is peaceful.

It is easy to praise God when prayers are answered.

It is easy to be faithful when everything is going according to our plans.

But can I remain faithful when:

God seems silent?

I experience rejection?

my family is going through difficulties?

*5) Mary receives a new mission*

Even while dying, Jesus is concerned about His mother and entrusts her to the beloved disciple

At the cross, Mary learns that love sometimes means accepting a new responsibility in the midst of pain.

When one door closes in life, God may open another form of service.

A widow may discover a new ministry of caring for others.

A retired person may become a source of wisdom and prayer.

Someone who has experienced suffering may become especially compassionate toward others who suffer.

Our wounds, when surrendered to God, can become sources of compassion.

*6) Standing” is a powerful spiritual attitude*

Mary stood at the foot of the cross.

She did not collapse in despair.

She did not curse God.

She did not abandon Jesus.

She stood.

This does not mean that Mary did not suffer intensely. Her heart was pierced with sorrow. But her sorrow did not destroy her faith.

What is the cross before which God is asking me to stand today?

Perhaps it is:

a difficult marriage or family situation,

illness, loneliness, grief,

disappointment, failure,

an unanswered prayer,

a broken relationship,

*7) Mary teaches us compassionate suffering*

Mary's suffering is not selfish suffering. She suffers with Jesus.

This gives us a beautiful lesson about compassion. cannot remain indifferent to another The word compassion means, in a sense, to suffer with another.

A Christian cannot remain indifferent to another person's pain.

When we see someone suffering, we are called not to ask, “Why is this happening to him/her?” alone, but also:

“How can I stand beside this person?”

That may mean praying, listening, helping financially, visiting, encouraging, forgiving, or simply being present.

*8) The cross is not the end*

The scene at Calvary appears to be the end of everything.

But we know the Gospel story does not end at the cross.

Good Friday leads to Easter.

Mary's sorrow eventually becomes joy through present suffering does not have the not mean that every problem will disappear exactly even when we cannot yet see the Easter courage to is also someone's mind, solve a family problem,. “Whose cross am I ignoringWhen we experience sorrow, give us your the Resurrection.

There may be a “Good Friday” in our life right now, but Good Friday is not the final chapter.

Our present suffering does not have the final word

Mary teaches us to trust God's promise even when we cannot yet see the Easter morning.

Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, teach me to stand beneath the cross.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*