The Gospel for the memorial of Our lady of Sorrows is taken from Luke 2nd chapter 33rd to the 35th verse. Jesus, Father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce so the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. What Simeon and Anna had told Mary and Joseph about their son was that he was the one to come. He was the Messiah. And they must have had some sense of that because of the way his birth took place.

But they also said his message is going to be contradicted by the temple. He’s going to be the enemy of the temple. And you also will see him suffer intensely. Yet he’s doing something that you must understand. He’s revealing people’s hearts. He’s revealing who all of us are.

Closing prayer Mary and Joseph became aware of their destiny. Their child, who was called to save the world, would be rejected and would be put through a painful, painful death. And Mary had to begin her journey of acceptance. That’s the key, accepting our destiny. It calls for great authenticity. He calls for us recognizing and spending time wondering about who we are and why we’re here.

When those two things are in sync with God’s plan, we are a powerful source of life to ourselves and everyone around us. Amen.