A WORD FOR TODAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY

LEARN FROM THE VIRGIN MARY AND STAY STRONG

"But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."(John 19:25)_

We are mortal beings and we pass through various levels of pain and agony in the course of our earthly existence. Sometimes, they break us, sometimes we conquer, however, it is very important that we try not to let our pain stop us from following Jesus, instead, we should hold unto Him firmly and conquer our pain.

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. It is a feast that reminds us of the pain of the Blessed Virgin Mary and what she endured as a human person and as the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She experienced suffering and pain just as Our Lord Jesus Christ did and she conquered in the end. We must learn from her to bear our cross for the sake of Christ so that we shall overcome in the end.

The seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary which the Church identified include: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the three days' loss of Jesus, the meeting with Jesus carrying His cross, His death on Calvary, His being taken down from the cross and His burial in the tomb. These pains are worth meditating upon and we will draw inspiration and strength from Our Lady to be able to bear our own sorrow which comes to us from time to time.

When sorrow and pain come to us, we need God's grace and strength to overcome and to stay strong through the difficult times. The crosses we bear can come in different forms and shapes, but what matters is how we handle it and stay focused so that the weight of the cross does not overwhelm us or push us to despair.

Are you in pains? Are you passing through a rough and difficult time? No matter what the challenge before you may be, no matter how the world has broken and wounded you, cast your hope in the Lord and learn from Our Lady so that you can stay strong and persevere till the end. She never gave up in her time of pain and if you stay close to her you will also draw the strength to keep following Jesus till the end.

Good morning dearest one. Smile 😊 as you do your work and do have a magnificent day. May Our lady obtain for you the grace of perseverance in your times of pain and sorrow. *Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Hebrews 5:7-9/Psalm 31:2-6,15-16,20/John 19:25-27

Watch-Word: Save me, O Lord, in your merciful love

When you are in pain, look at the heart of Jesus and that of our Blessed Mother and see what they suffered and draw your strength from them to stay strong and overcome.

(Tuesday of the twenty-fourth week in the ordinary time, year II. Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.)