My reflection today is from Living Faith:
Standing by the cross of Jesus for his mother and his mother‘s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. John 19:25
“For Mary, mother of the crucified there was no thought of running away. No thought of abandoning her beloved son in his last hours of agony. No thought that her association with Jesus, sentenced to a criminals death, might result in a similar tortured fate for herself.
No, John recalls, she was standing. Standing, not fleeing. Standing, not hiding. Standing as witness to the last moment of this man whom she had nurtured as a child and accompanied with tenderness into adulthood. Standing and knowing her self powerless to save him. Standing and owning the truth that sometimes simply being present is all we can do, and it is everything.
Mary, Mother of the Church, stands with us still. May her witness bless us and inspire us to stand with others in love and compassion.” Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.
Today’s feast is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Morher of the Church. Today’s reflection by Sr. Chris is powerful. First it reminds me of all those families whose loved ones died during this pandemic. The pain of not being able to be with their loved one. Mary stands with us and gives us the example of watching and being present. I think and pray for all those who have loved ones who are seriously ill or dying right now. Dear Lord, give them the grace that they need during these difficult times.
