The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091515.cfm) reminds me that we should always be concerned about others.
As we remember Mama Mary as our Lady of Sorrows, I am reminded that we should always be concerned about the situation and sufferings of others. A very good friend shared some research on our Lady of Sorrows a few weeks back, and it struck me.
While other martyrs suffered by sacrificing their own lives, the Blessed Virgin suffered by sacrificing Her Son's life -- a life that she loved far more than her own; so that she not only suffered in her soul all that her Son endured in His body, but moreover the sight of her Son's torments brought more grief to her heart than if she had endured them all in her own person." -St. Antoninus ...And it is because of this that Jesus Himself delights that we reflect on the sorrows of His Mother, than if we merely reflect on His own sorrows.
Makes sense. As Jesus’ earthly mother, Mama Mary has been with him since the beginning of his earthly life. She bore him and brought him to this world. She was there when Jesus was a baby learning things in life, until Jesus went to his public life to do God’s mission, and his passion and death on the cross. It must have been very hard and painful for her to see Jesus being persecuted, spat upon, beaten and eventually crucified to death.
We should have this love and concern for others.
Nowadays, it is easy to be apathetic. We are not as concerned for others. We have a lot of reasons for being such – that others are in a better place to help, that others have more resources, that he poor are part of a syndicate, that we have a lot of problems ourselves, that what we see is not the real situation. We have a lot of reasons not to care and show concern for others. But God wants us to. God needs us to. We are God’s active hands in this earth. He uses us to spread his love, to make others feel and experience his love in this earth.
May we be inspired by our Lady of Sorrows, not just to be one with others in their sorrows and sufferings, but also to allow God to use us to reach out and help others in what they are going through.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for our mother, Mama Mary. Thank you for reminding us of her love and concern, not only to Jesus but to all of us as well. Help us be like her. Help us be really concerned about the situation and well-being of others. I know she was not in a perfect situation, but she did her best to love perfectly. No matter what situation I am in right now, help me to love and help like her. Use me Lord to make your love more alive and more real to others in this world. amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
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Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Lectionary: 444/639
Lectionary: 444/639
Reading 1 1 Tm 3:1-13
Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:
whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.
Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,
married only once, temperate, self-controlled,
decent, hospitable, able to teach,
not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,
not contentious, not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well,
keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;
for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,
how can he take care of the Church of God?
He should not be a recent convert,
so that he may not become conceited
and thus incur the Devil’s punishment.
He must also have a good reputation among outsiders,
so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil’s trap.
Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,
not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,
holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Moreover, they should be tested first;
then, if there is nothing against them,
let them serve as deacons.
Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers,
but temperate and faithful in everything.
Deacons may be married only once
and must manage their children and their households well.
Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing
and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.
Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,
married only once, temperate, self-controlled,
decent, hospitable, able to teach,
not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,
not contentious, not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well,
keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;
for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,
how can he take care of the Church of God?
He should not be a recent convert,
so that he may not become conceited
and thus incur the Devil’s punishment.
He must also have a good reputation among outsiders,
so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil’s trap.
Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,
not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,
holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Moreover, they should be tested first;
then, if there is nothing against them,
let them serve as deacons.
Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers,
but temperate and faithful in everything.
Deacons may be married only once
and must manage their children and their households well.
Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing
and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm PS 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
R. (2) I will walk with blameless heart.
Of mercy and judgment I will sing;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will persevere in the way of integrity;
when will you come to me?
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
I will walk with blameless heart,
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
any base thing.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I destroy.
The man of haughty eyes and puffed up heart
I will not endure.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Of mercy and judgment I will sing;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will persevere in the way of integrity;
when will you come to me?
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
I will walk with blameless heart,
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
any base thing.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I destroy.
The man of haughty eyes and puffed up heart
I will not endure.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the martyr's crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary;
without dying you won the martyr's crown
beneath the Cross of the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 2:33-35
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierceso that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierceso that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
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