An 18th Sunday after Pentecost Thought In The Face of Our Current Situation

We recently re-capped our current situation during one of our weekday posts. It succinctly but thoroughly reviewed the distractions and disruptions that have been both building and continually attacking our personal and work life.

Not that we should feel sorry for ourselves. In other parts of the world, and in other times in the past, folks have faced much tougher circumstances. But saying things could be worse never struck me as particularly reassuring. Our tough times may be less tough than some others. But they're still tough.

So on this 18th Sunday after Pentecost, we might consider dealing with our current situation by upping the ante in our spiritual life. There are lots of ways to do that. These Sunday posts have and will continue to make suggestions. And, of course, if we're ready to up the ante in our spiritual life, Sunday's the time to begin. It's the Lord's Day and one He gives us for respite from our daily labor - a good combination, no?

With that in mind, this is what sprang to life in my fevered brain. It's just one way to skin the cat. But maybe you'll find it helpful.

It's October, the Month of the Holy Rosary. Our recently expired September was the month devoted to the Seven Sorrows (Dolors) of Our Blessed Mother. The connection between September and October? Our Lady of course. She was with us in the past. She is with us now. She will be with us in the future. She has been, is now, and will be our Mother.

With this in mind, a question: How have we treated our Mother lately? Like a Mother? A real Mother? 

Improvement needed here? Maybe? Definitely (like in my case)? We might start that improvement by considering - maybe even meditating a bit on - those Seven Sorrows. 

1) The Prophecy of Simeon
2) The Flight Into Egypt
3) The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
4) Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
5) Jesus Dies on the Cross
6) Mary Receives Jesus
7) Jesus is Placed in the Tomb 

We Catholics should know each of these very well. (If not, get up to speed ASAP!)

Whether you've ever deeply meditated on Mary's Seven Sorrows, here's a simple question that should jump out at us, even by perusing this list: Has anyone faced sorrow like Our dear Mother? I've faced some sorrows in my life, including the loss of a child. And during the time our son was sick in a coma, I prayed like crazy to Mary. While I received her consolation, her Son did not grant my petition for a miracle. Our son died. Tough as that was, it occurred to me that Mary's Son died. And in this we were united in some special way. It's didn't make the death of our child any easier, but it did draw me a bit closer to my Mother.

Ever since, I've tried to treat her more like the Mother that she is.

You don't need to go through the death of a son to appreciate what Mary endured. Just recall that no two people were ever closer, more united in every way, than Our Lord and His Mother. Second only to the intensity of the pain experienced by Our Lord during His Passion was the pain experienced by His Mother as she witnessed His suffering and death. 

And a mere 40 days after His Resurrection, after being reunited with His Mother, He ascended into Heaven, leaving her stranded here on earth, again separated from Him.

All the tough times this world has thrown at all of us fallen creatures over the history of this earth cannot approach the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

Getting back to our current situation, how will this understanding assist us in facing and dealing with what's being piled on these days? Comparing the common distractions and disruptions we all face with our individual personal difficulties and sorrows to Mary's Sorrows will place our situation in context. It shines a glimmer of supernatural light on it. We'll still have to tough it out. But through it all we can turn to our Mother for her intercession, her counsel, even her consolation. (I thank her every morning for these.) 

Some of us may find this more difficult than others, depending on our individual personality, degree of holiness, and the specific circumstances we may be facing right now in our lives. If it's a bit of a stretch, how about we simply remind ourselves that Mary really is, REALLY, a loving, caring, sympathetic Mother - the most loving, caring, sympathetic Mother that can be. Really consider this. 

Having been blessed with a loving, caring, sympathetic earthly mother, I've found that thinking of my Mom (and her name was Mary too), and devotedly imagining our Blessed Mother being at least as much of a Mother as my Mom (although she really is much more), really helps here. 

Or you could remember Our Lord's words to St. John at the foot of the Cross, referring to Mary: "Behold your Mother." The Church has always taught that these words were intended not only for St. John, but for all of us.

Whatever it takes to deepen our relationship to Mary, our Mother, let's spend some time doing just that on this 18th Sunday after Pentecost. It may not make our current situation easier, but it will help us to tough it out, whatever comes our way.

Happy Sunday!