Behold Your Mother

Behold Your Mother

September 15, 2012

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?  Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one Body, for we all partake of the one loaf.  1 Cor 10:16-17

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."  Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother."  And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.  John 19:26-27

Piety

Father, take away all that divides us into silos and cliques.  Brother Jesus, give to us the strength in mind, body and spirit to tackle the responsibilities of all the communities to which we are a member.  Holy Spirit, set us free from all that hold us back from offering welcoming hospitality to those who want to become a part of our community.  Amen.

Study

When we speak of one body, that symbol manifests itself in our church in many ways.  The moment of communion is when we unite with Christ and partake in His mission.  Yet whom else are we in union with?

Spouse and Family.  Sacramental Marriage puts us in union with our wife or husband…and then our children.  By extension, our parents, siblings, and extended family also are a part of our union.

 Parish Community.  To be part of a church, we must also be a part of a community.  At the foot of the cross, as Jesus departed from his mortal life, his mother became part of the community of disciples.  John became part of Mary's family. 

Those in religious life also speak of their community.  Dominican Sisters.  Benedictine.  Jesuits.  Franciscans.  

The communities make up a parts of your life are identified by the common experiences you shared in the past, what you do together in the present, and how you look out for each other in the future.

Today's memorial is the feast day for our home parish -- St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax, Virginia.  Within this community, there are numerous parts but they all make up the one body of that community.  The clergy and staff.  The families.  the various programs from social justice and religious education to the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  There are dozens of smaller groups which make up our overall community.  Some are formal and some are informal.  Prayer groups.  Cursillo groups.  Even those attending each Mass have a special union as they share the message and the meal.

Action

Beyond your parish, what communities are you a part of?  What are your responsibilities to those communities -- whether they are at home, at work, at volunteer activities or at play?

Now, think of your communion with the Lord and with Our Lady of Sorrows.  What responsibilities do you carry out to those unions?  Are you carrying your own share of the weight or is all the weight of that cross on the shoulders of Christ?  What can you do to better share the responsibilities of those communities, too?