Our Lady of Sorrows

Today's Gospel Reading (Luke 2:33-35)

As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed- and a sword will pierce your soul too -- so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'.

Our Lady of Sorrows

Today, the Gospel not only tells us what women were next to the
Cross, but also that Jesus Christ does not leave His mother alone:
He places her in the custody of John. When St. John speaks of human
acts like this, he certainly remembers events that had actually occurred,
but he always wants to go deeper than mere facts of the past. So,
what is he trying to say?

The first clue comes from his form of address to Mary: "Woman".
Jesus had used this same form of address at the marriage feast of Cana,
anticipation of the definitive marriage feast, of the "new wine" that the
Lord wanted to bestow. What had then been merely a prophetic sign
now becomes a reality. Second, the Church has not had any difficulty
to recognize in the "Woman", on the one hand, Mary herself, and,
on the other hand —transcending time— the "Church", bride and
Mother, in which the mystery of Mary spreads out into history.

—O Jesus, I wish to receive Mary as a person (our Mother!) in my
own personal existence and as a Church, thus fulfilling your last will,
as St. John also did.