Our Lady has sorrow

Hebrews 5:7-9; Psalm 31 save me,  O Lord, in your kindness; John 19:25-27 

I begin this reflection with a quote from St. Bernard:

"Perhaps someone will say, "Had she not known before he would die?" Undoubtedly.  "Did she not expect him to rise again at once." Surely.  "And still she grieved over her crucified son?"  Intensely.  Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary's son?  For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit?  He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known.  she died in spirit through love unlike any other since his."

Our Lady has sorrow.  Sorrow is not a contradiction to faith.  One who has deep faith feels more deeply the emotions of the human heart.  

Faith is not  wall or barrier to emotions and feelings but a gateway in allowing them to be true.

Our Lady has sorrow, because she has faith. One who can never experience sorrow is one who can never truly love. Deep love and deep pain expand the human heart and helps it realize what it can be, a vessel ready to receive the divine life. 

Our Lady stands at the cross gazing at her son and her heart is moved with tears and anguish. 

She has sorrow because she had loved and she had been love. 

This is why she stands at the cross and not falls in despair.  She has no regrets.  She said yes to God and trusted that He would see it through. 

Standing is a posture that speaks boldly of Our Lady's sorrow.  Standing is a posture of strength, of confidence, of steadfastness, and of hope.  Standing is a posture that reveals to us that Our Lady has joy even in her sorrow for she stands ready and attentive for the word of love of God that will be breathed forth  in the resurrection. 

In a certain sense the sorrow of Mary poses two questions to us, "Why did this happen?" and "Now that this is happen, will you not lead me through?"

The one who has hope lives differently; the one who has hope stands firmly.