How Much More (Journeying with Mary in the Sorrowful Mysteries)

                                                                          by Sr. Mary Magdalene

During the Lenten season, I have been praying the Rosary and sticking more exclusively with the Sorrowful Mysteries. As I pondered on each of the mysteries in the life of Jesus, The Garden of Gethsemane, The Scourging, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and The Crucifixion, I recognized that each “Hail, Mary” prayer, each bead of the Rosary, was a step with our Blessed Mother along The Way of the Cross.

         

          
                                Mother, hold my hand, help me pray:
                                          Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
                                          Blessed are you among women and
                                          Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
                                          Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
                                          Now and at the hour of our death.

The Agony:
I have heard it said that many mothers have had a sense of the pain and suffering of their children even when they might not be directly in their presence. I suspect many of us have moved on a sense or feeling that we should contact a friend or call one of our adult children only to find out that the movement of our heart was well founded. How much more would our Mother Mary have been in tune with the sacred heart of her redeemer son?  It seems an easy supposition to believe she shared in his agony knowing, if not yet fully understanding, that for the moment this must be the way.



The Scourging:
A mother spends a great deal of time kissing boo-boos and cleaning scrapes. It is her instinct to try to bring comfort to the suffering of others, especially those she calls her own.  This is no more strongly experienced than in her desire to keep or calm the pain, fears and anxiety of one of her children.  How much more would our Mother Mary have wanted to protect her redeemer son from some of the gut wrenchingly intense pain, fear and anxiety he was experiencing.  She knew, though I’m sure it was well beyond her human understanding, that for the moment this must be the way.




The Crowning:
A mother feels the pain of a child who is not accepted by their peers. Even more painful is when that child is outright mocked or ostracized. It doesn’t take much time at all to read the news and have a sense of just how cruel a warped humanity can be to their fellow human beings.  A crown of thorns was not simply “placed” upon the head of Jesus, but it was pressed in to cause pain, to do damage, to give the torturer a sense (albeit a false sense) of power over their victim. A mother’s heart would have nearly pounded from her chest with the desire to protect her child from this cruelty. How much more would Mother Mary have wanted to protect him from this painful indignity.  She knew, but could not hope to even understand the cruelty of others and the ultimate purpose in his suffering.


The Carrying of His Cross:
The burden is too great, I want to share it with you.  With each fall, I want to lift you up. You are growing weak, I want to strengthen and encourage you.
How much more would Mother Mary have wanted to rush to the side of her redeemer son, offering anything she could to lighten his burden and strengthen his resolve.  She knew, and perhaps she was only beginning to understand, that this was a work singularly his own.
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The Crucifixion:
Falsely accused. Hung between criminals. Naked, bleeding, struggling to breathe. Certain death lurking and thick in the air. And all she could do was remain in his presence.  How many of us have found ourselves with nothing to offer but our presence.  A loved one suffering with a physical or mental illness, an addiction, or otherwise lost to the pain and suffering of the world…..and all we can offer is our presence.  How much more would Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God, have desired to be able to offer her redeemer son something more than presence.  And yet, this was the exact and correct thing to give.  A presence of love and fidelity.  She knew, though, as yet, without the fullness of understanding.  She knew and held back nothing of her desire to be fully present.

                           Mother, hold my hand, help me pray:
                                      Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
                                      Blessed are you among women and
                                      Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
                                      Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
                                      Now and at the hour of our death.

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