Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows – Year A
There is something very powerful about the way today's Gospel describes Mary: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother…” She could not take away Jesus' suffering. She could not stop the nails or change what was happening. But she could remain there. She stayed. Sometimes love cannot fix a situation, but it can refuse to walk away. Mary teaches us that sometimes the greatest gift we can give another person is simply our presence.
We know what this looks like in everyday life. A mother sits beside her sick child. A husband stays beside his dying wife. A friend keeps showing up when someone is grieving. A family member quietly cares for an elderly parent. There are moments when we have no answers and no words that can make things better. We may feel helpless. But Mary reminds us that being present is itself an act of love. At the foot of the Cross, she could do nothing to remove Jesus' pain, but her presence told Him, “You are not alone.”
Perhaps today we should ask ourselves: Who needs me simply to stay? Is there someone who is going through a difficult time whom I have avoided because I don't know what to say? We don't always need the right words. Sometimes we just need to be there, to listen, to pray, to hold a hand, or to sit in silence. Our Lady of Sorrows teaches us that Christian love does not always have to solve the problem. Sometimes love simply stays. And when we stay with someone in their sorrow, we become a little more like Mary—and a little more like Christ.
With Love and Prayers
Your Co-Traveler