Scripture
for meditation: Lamentations 1:12
Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is
any suffering like my suffering.
Scripture
for reflection: Luke 2:34-35
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother: 'This Child is
destined to be the Downfall and the Rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be
opposed — and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword — so that the thoughts
of many hearts may be laid bare.'"
We enter
into conversation with Mary: Be with me now as we pray and again walk to
Calvary with my Son. Walk with me now. Hold my hand. Feel my pain…. I did not
know to the extent I would endure pain for Him, from His love…. Walk with me
now, see as I see, feel as I feel, love as I love, hurt as I did—that day and
now—for now is when we walk. Place it now in your thoughts and
actions. Be there now. It is today…. With me, see His love. With me, see
His pain. He is here with us. It is now to Him child, always—for
in this does eternity exist. Oh child, dear child, see my heart melt as my Son
approaches. I have so much love for Him as His mother—so much love for Him as
God. Be now my companion. See His face. It is stained with tears, with blood.
It is draped in agony. It is lifted only by my heart touching His—my love
reaching out to His love—my mind and spirit becoming one with His. He looks and
sees my pain. My anguish for Him is beyond compare, but my love for His
children, His beloved, is there. He has given me the grace to see redemption at
hand—the gift of love in His Heart. He sees my heart. His eyes penetrate my soul
to know its love for Him. He is my Son—sent to die in anguish on the Cross….His
love is great. For only such a great love could sustain Him. He cries out in
anguish and grief; He holds my hand. But for a brief moment we touch. “Hold me
my Son!” But no, it is not to be—no consolation of heart for a mother burdened
with grief. No love penetrates the heart that was pierced with a sword. Only
His pain now do I feel—only His love rejected and trod down do I know…. Your
heart, child, now place it with mine, as we place ours with His. He is here for
us—for a moment—for eternity—but we do not see the future as thus just yet. We
see the pain, we see the torn flesh. We tolerate all, knowing only that this is
His wish and ordained by God above. Understanding? There is none. Hatred? It
abounds all around. It is the evil that carries the crowd…. The good they do
not see. They do not see redemption at hand. They do not realize that which
they do in anger and hatred is that which is done in love, by Love. They
do not see! Their eyes are blind. Their hearts are hardened and glossed
over by any who would question the crime they are about to commit. Imagine your
Lord so full of love, now pressed down by hate. The sores have been opened by
each step. The thorns are now deeper as He walks. He is beaten still—pushed on
by the mob who would kill and maim…. No
one walks with my Son as His ally. They are frightened. As I meet my Son—we are
one—for a moment. I love Him so. Know now my hurt as He continues on and I am
left there in tears to God praying for His perseverance—the grace to now do
what He has come to do. My tears child—they are yours. Feel them in your heart.
Know they last forever—until my children are home safely. Then can we
rejoice. www.stationscross.com.
Prayer:
consoler Consecration to Mary (Consoling
the Heart of Jesus, Fr. Michael Gaitley, pg.114) Mary, my Mother, I give you my whole being so you may lead me to
console your Son with the perfect consolation you give to Him. From this day
forward, dear Jesus, whenever I embrace You, may it be with the arms of Mary.
Whenever I kiss you, may it be with the lips of Mary. Whenever I sing to you,
praise you and thank you, may it be with the voice of Mary. Jesus, in short,
every time I love you, may it be with the heart of Mary.
My thoughts:
I must admit that the thought of Mary seeing
Jesus carrying His cross after His scourging and crowning with thorns, brings
tears to my heart. Her plea in the above meditation is really her call to all
of us: please do not let all of this be in vain; please turn your hearts of
stone into hearts of love for my Son; His gift was so freely given; can you not
freely accept it, along with your own cross?
Mary will always follow us along our journey, holding us up when we
stumble, reaching out in love when we cry, and applauding us when we are doing
well. Never forget that her “fiat” was a yes to suffering and pain, joined with
her Son’s. So is ours.
Our prayer
to God: In our week of alms giving, it is right to consider the many people
who suffer alone. Mary asks us to remember her tears for all her children until
they are safely home. Let us not be afraid to offer to say a prayer for someone
who shares their hurt or suffering with us. No matter what religion or attitude
toward religion a person may have, all appreciate a prayer. It just might be
the doorway for their return to God.
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