THE MOTHER WHO FORGIVES
The theme for our meditation today is: The Mother Who Forgives. The Blessed Virgin Mary's experience of grief is closely related to the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. When facing the death sentence, Jesus was alone. The apostles left Him, except for His mother and His beloved disciple, John. Mary, the Mother of Jesus and three other women were near the the foot of the cross.
At the foot of the cross, Mary experienced the highest point of sorrow, namely the death of the Son she had conceived and given birth to. Long before when the baby Jesus was offered up in the temple, the man of God Simeon had predicted that Mary would meet a terrible agony, a sword to pierce her soul. Then she really lived a life colored with suffering with Jesus until its end on Golgotha. Many consider Virgin Mary a martyr in spirit. But Mary did not lose strength and gave in because of this sorrow and deep loss, for her faith and hope were sustained by faith in God and love for her Son.
As an expression of her strong faith, Mary, in communion with her Son, forgives with the same dignity as what made by Jesus from the cross, as He said: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. From the cross, Jesus also mandated His mother to adopt all his followers of all ages, represented by the beloved disciple. So Mary was obedient to the task of accepting all people, including those who had grievously sinned in putting Jesus to death so that they would be forgiven, raised and brought back to the truth of the Lord.
Until now in her unity with Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary is still sad to see the disciples of Jesus fall into sin and strive to free themselves from the power of evil. Their fall into sin clearly brings pain and suffering to the body of Christ, the sorrowful Church. If some members of the Church sin and do evil, it will greatly affect other members. But more than merely grieving and regretting of their suffering souls, Our Lady from her merciful heart always asks Jesus Christ to forgive and renew their lives. Part of the prayer "Hail Mary" that says "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death..." is the most obvious expression of how our Lady also forgives us.
Thinking on the person of our Lady of Sorrow, should immediately make us aware not to continue to make her overwhelmed in deep sorrow because of our sins, just as we do not want to constantly make our our mothers at home sad because of our misbehavior and inappropriate actions as the children of God.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us to always have a true and strong devotion to Our Lady, our mother who always forgives. Hail Mary full of grace... In the name of the Father...