Our Lady of Sorrows, Feast, Sept. 15, 2006. And 23 Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, Sept.16

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-9. Psalm 31:2-6,15-16, 20. John 19:25-27. or Luke 2:33-35.

Who can enter into the pain and sorrow in the heart of a mother who has lost an only beloved child? I think only another mother who has experienced such a painful loss. So when I reflect on the sorrows of Mary who lost her son Jesus through death on a cross, I can only learn to experience this by realizing the pain and suffering I have seen in those mothers who have lost their only child. I remember when I was about four, my mother lost my baby brother a day or two after he was born. She continued to remember and to mourn Joseph throughout her life. All I remember is the sadness in the upper bedroom that I experienced with dad and my grandmother. Then all I can remember is a little white casket. He was buried in a paupers part of a Catholic cemetery in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I realize some of the sorrow of Mary through the sorrow of my own mother. I caught glimpses of her sorrow each year as we came near the birthday and death date of Joseph. Mother always remembered his life and death even though it was so short.

In today's readings from the Prayer of the Church, I found these lines of St. Bernard of Clairvaux helpful in relating to Mary's sorrow: "If Jesus could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit? He died in the body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his."

Mary, as I ponder over the sword of sorrow that pierced your heart, I realize how great was your love. You could only live through such pain and sorrow because of your tremendous love. I ask that I be united with you whenever I suffer the loss of a friend or of a religious brother or sister. The greatness of your all encompassing love will help me through such pain and sorrow. I am also led to think of you in the sons lost to mothers through war, violence, and terrorism and to ask you to comfort them. Amen.

September 16, Scripture: I Cor.10:14-22. Psalm 116:12-13,17-18. Luke 6:43-49

There are strong Eucharist themes in Paul today and by accommodation in Psalm 116. I had used one of the verses from this Psalm for my ordination card of March 14, 1964. Paul is stressing the unity that should be in the Christian community of Corinth. This unity and peace are given and symbolized in the reality of the Eucharist. This body and blood of Jesus is contrasted with the emptiness and lifelessness of idols. Paul is confronting idol worship with the sacrament of the Eucharist. He states, "Is not the cup of blessing we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? And in Psalm 116, verses 12 and 13: " How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows in the presence of all his people."

Jesus encourages us to produce good works and to do good deeds of kindness to others. This is the way I interpret the metaphors and images that Jesus gives to us in the selection from Luke. The Eucharist helps us to be nourished and strengthened to love and to be at peace with one another. We thereby produce good fruit. As we receive the Lord into our hearts, we realize that Jesus' words are close to what we experience:"A good person produces goodness from the good in his heart." (Luke 6:45).