HOMILY, TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY- FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR ( A)
OUR LADY OF SORROWS ( Memorial)
R1:- Hebrews 5:7-9
PS:- 31:1-2ab.2cd-3.4-514-15.19(R.16b)
Accl:- Blessed is the blessed Virgin Mary; for without dying, She merited the palm of Martyrdom at the foot of the Lord’s Cross.
Gosp:- John 19:25b-27 Or Luke 2:33-35
Yesterday, we celebrated the exaltation of the Holy Cross and today, we are celebrating Our Lady of Sorrow.
It has been established that the cross remains an accursed tree without the one who was hung upon it, the Lord Jesus Christ. With no one to carry it with Jesus, it becomes meaningless.
Jesus, the man on the cross is the Lamb that was slain, who willingly gave himself at the Eucharistic table. As the good shepherd, he gave up his life upon the cross at Calvary. And the shedding of his blood brought salvation to the whole world.
Jesus Christ, the Lamb, died, not just for the church. He died for the whole human race. Beside him stood the calm and peaceful woman who had learnt the art of managing the agony, not just of birth pang, but also of the death of a beloved Son.
Mary remains the prototype of a good mother, whose immaculate heart could manage the pain that accompanies the death of a child. Right from her son’s birth, she had developed the art of pondering. Her humility and child-like trust in God gave her the courage to follow the way of her son without counting the cost.
Today, we celebrate her and we are all encouraged to share in her courage.
Let us invite her to intercede for us that we may be endowed with the strength to face the challenges of life. Let us call on her to journey with us.
May the Blessed Mother cover us with her virginal mantle that we may gently pass through the huddles of our life. Amen.
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