(Carving of 4th Station in Stations of the Cross, at Almondbury with Farnley Tyas Church, near West Yorkshire, UK)
The
Fourth Sorrow--Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
Who, on Christ's dear mother gazing,
in her trouble so amazing,
born of woman, would not weep?
Who, on Christ's dear Mother thinking,
such a cup of sorrow drinking,
would not share her sorrows deep?
Nothing could have consoled Mary when she saw her son on the way to Calvary--whipped and scourged, the crowds mocking, taunting and jeering. Perhaps they also scorned her for approaching him, mocking her cries and moans as she beheld the horror of what had been done to Jesus. But perhaps also in that crowd there were silent mothers whose stomach churned at the thought, "This could be my child. I could be that woman."
Each day, mothers travel long distances to see their children in prison and in police stations. Some behold the horror of their children beaten by authorities. In some countries, brutality at the hands of police and soldiers is typical and expected, rather than unusual and deplorable. Some of these mothers will discover that their daughters will have been raped by those who swore to uphold and protect the laws. Some mothers will see their children's limbs blown off by land mines and IED's, or visit them in the hospital following such events. Some mothers will weep at the side of their children dying on the battlefield.
Let us pray. (silence)
Liberator God, when we view the carnage of the world news through media sources, remind us that these could be our children, our parents, our siblings. Help us to see the pain of the Blessed Virgin Mary beholding her son at Calvary, rather than to pass judgment on the situation or the politics. Fill our eyes with her tears, our hearts with her sorrow, our stomachs with her aching love for her Son. Place your words in our mouths so we can find the voice to speak out on behalf of the oppressed; animate our hands and feet to work for justice and peace. We ask this in the name of your Son, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Who, on Christ's dear mother gazing,
in her trouble so amazing,
born of woman, would not weep?
Who, on Christ's dear Mother thinking,
such a cup of sorrow drinking,
would not share her sorrows deep?
Nothing could have consoled Mary when she saw her son on the way to Calvary--whipped and scourged, the crowds mocking, taunting and jeering. Perhaps they also scorned her for approaching him, mocking her cries and moans as she beheld the horror of what had been done to Jesus. But perhaps also in that crowd there were silent mothers whose stomach churned at the thought, "This could be my child. I could be that woman."
Each day, mothers travel long distances to see their children in prison and in police stations. Some behold the horror of their children beaten by authorities. In some countries, brutality at the hands of police and soldiers is typical and expected, rather than unusual and deplorable. Some of these mothers will discover that their daughters will have been raped by those who swore to uphold and protect the laws. Some mothers will see their children's limbs blown off by land mines and IED's, or visit them in the hospital following such events. Some mothers will weep at the side of their children dying on the battlefield.
Let us pray. (silence)
Liberator God, when we view the carnage of the world news through media sources, remind us that these could be our children, our parents, our siblings. Help us to see the pain of the Blessed Virgin Mary beholding her son at Calvary, rather than to pass judgment on the situation or the politics. Fill our eyes with her tears, our hearts with her sorrow, our stomachs with her aching love for her Son. Place your words in our mouths so we can find the voice to speak out on behalf of the oppressed; animate our hands and feet to work for justice and peace. We ask this in the name of your Son, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
0 comments:
Post a Comment