Mary, Mother of Sorrows

Mary, Mother of Sorrows: The Fifth Sorrow, Mary Stands beneath the Cross—Mary sees and hears the exchange between the two criminals. One of them is making fun of Jesus. Dismis confronts his fellow criminal, saying to him: “Have you no fear of God at all? You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Dismis stands up for Jesus, admits his sinfulness and begs mercy. Mary hears Jesus’ response: “In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Imagine Mary hearing those words: Jesus will soon be in paradise, as will Dismis. Imagine, too, if you were watching a loved one close to death and that person said to you: “Honey, I will soon be in Paradise. Jesus is calling me.”  Would not your heart be deeply, deeply touched and, as much as you would not want to lose that person or let him/her go, you would not withhold that gift from him/her.

Imagine, too, being the parent or family member of a criminal and you witnessed  your son/daughter/loved one, while facing death, stand up for Jesus, admit his/her wrongdoing and ask God for mercy.  It happens every day because our God is a merciful, compassionate, loving God who extends the grace of redemption to everyone.  No exceptions!  The opportunity to witness to Jesus, to acknowledge our sinfulness, to ask for mercy will be given to each one of us, as it was given to Dismis and his fellow criminal.  Mary will be there as our witness, praying that we will accept the invitation to repent. Like Mary, we, too, however, are called upon to pray for others in similar situations. Who, in your life, needs your intercessory prayer and your mercy?