Today we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. This celebration recalls the 7 sorrows of Mary.
1. Simeon’s prophecy at the presentation of Jesus in the temple
2. The flight into Egypt
3. The loss of the boy Jesus in Jerusalem
4. The meeting with Jesus on the road to Calvary
5. The death of Jesus on the Cross
6. The lifeless body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross.
7. The burial of Jesus.
You will notice that the last 4 sorrows deal with the worse human suffering possible. No pain, no sorrow, no grief is greater than that experienced upon the death of a child.
Today’s Gospel reveals an important fact about Mary as she deals with the greatest of all sorrows: “Standing near the Cross of Jesus was his mother”. As Jesus was dying, Mary stood under the Cross.
What is she doing standing under the Cross? At first glance, it appears she is doing nothing. She does not speak, does not try to stop the crucifixion, does not protest its unfairness or plead Jesus’ innocence. She is mute – seemingly passive, not doing anything at all.
But, as Fr. Ronald Rolheiser suggests, at a deeper level, she is doing 2 important things. First, in the Gospels, “standing” is a position of strength. Mary stood under the Cross. She was silent, but she was strong and fearless there. She was not one of those who fled. Second, she refused to give back what she was receiving.
Mary seems to be saying: “I can’t stop the crucifixion, but I can stop some of this hatred”. “I can’t stop this crucifixion, but I will not give back this bitterness”. “I can’t stop this crucifixion, but I will not add a single drop to this negative destructive energy that is swirling around me.” “I can’t stop this crucifixion, but I can give the opposite of this crucifixion: gentleness, understanding, forgiveness, peace and light”.
Why does any of this matter? In the Gospels, Mary is the 1st person to hear the Word of God and keep it. Thus, she is the 1st true disciple. She knows what a true disciple should be and should do. She provides an example of discipleship that we can imitate.
Today’s celebration invites us to follow her example in 2 areas of our lives. First, when pain, sorrow, suffering, grief come, Mary inspires us to stand in strength and in courage and to take heart.
Second, when darkness comes, Mary inspires us to refuse to give back darkness. When confronted by negativity and blackness, Mary inspires us to transform negativity and blackness rather than retransmit them.
What does it mean to “transform” darkness rather than “transmit” darkness? Let me illustrate what I mean by sharing the story of Tom Colucci.
Twenty years ago, last Saturday, two hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center. Tom Colucci was a firefighter with the New York City Fire Department. 343 firefighters died that day.
Colucci was acquainted with about a hundred of them, thirty of whom he knew well and five he knew intimately. In the face of all this death and darkness, Colucci could have become angry and bitter; he could have cursed God; he could have decided he wanted nothing to do with the Church.
In one spot of the wreckage, all the twisted steel had formed itself into the shape of a clearly identifiable cross. Mass began to be offered for Ground Zero workers beneath it each day.
Colucci attended many of these Masses while working on site. He also attended the many Funeral Masses offered for his fallen brothers in the ensuing months. While praying at so many Masses, it became clear to him that he had to play a role in transforming the darkness rather than transmitting it.
He did this by radiating all that is the opposite of darkness. He resisted bitterness and anger. He refused to be mastered by his sorrow. Instead, he resolved to make a total consecration of his life to God by becoming a priest.
In 2016, at the age of 60, Colucci was ordained at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Today, Fr. Tom is the hard working, highly respected and highly admired pastor of Most Precious Blood Parish in Walden, New York.
This remarkable story of how a 9/11 firefighter became a priest dedicated to the service of others is an excellent example to show that, when faced with darkness, rather than transmit or give back further sorrow and darkness, it is possible to transform darkness and sorrow into light.
Mary’s deepest sorrows resulted from the suffering and death of her Son. But that suffering and death were transformed into the salvation of the world. She realized that in the depths of her being!
Likewise, our most profound sorrows can be transformed so that we can still live as people of the light. That’s the reason for which white is the liturgical color of today’s feast.
Standing near the Cross of Jesus was his mother”. These words are more than just an incidental reference to Mary’s posture. They reveal a profound truth!
As our Eucharist continues, let us ask God for the grace to respond to our suffering and sorrow like Mary did – to stand in strength and courage and to transform that suffering and sorrow.
Amen.
Deacon Roland Muzzatti
September 15, 2021