Commentary on Luke 2:33-35 or John 19:25-27

(Note: The Gospel readings today are proper to the memorial and must be used even if the ferial readings are otherwise chosen.)

There are two choices for the Gospel reading. The first is from Luke’s account of the Presentation in the Temple. While they were in the Temple, Mary and Joseph met the holy man Simeon, who had been promised that he would not die before laying eyes on the Messiah. When he meets Mary and Joseph, he recognises the Messiah in the baby she is holding. He then proceeds to make some prophecies about Jesus and, addressing Mary herself, tells her:

…a sword will pierce your own soul, too.

He does not specify what that “sword” might be, but now we can see that it particularly alludes to the suffering and death of Jesus which she witnessed. However, the “sword” can also be applied to the other painful experiences we remember as the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

The alternative Gospel reading is from John’s account of the Crucifixion where he mentions that “his mother” was present as her Son died:

…standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Also standing next to his mother was “the disciple whom he loved”.

Seeing them there, Jesus entrusts the ‘Beloved Disciple’ to the care of his Mother, while telling the Beloved Disciple that Jesus’ Mother is his also. Some would see in this scene the Mother of Jesus as symbolising the Christian community. There is to be a relationship of mutual support between the community and its dedicated members. The community exists for the well-being of the individual members and each member is committed in turn to the well-being of the community.

And who was more united to Jesus than his Mother? It is because of her acceptance of and identification with the sufferings of her Son that we celebrate her memory today.