Mama Cried

The great majority of my images of Jesus’ Mother are her being obedient (The Annunciation), forthright (The Wedding of Cana), and spiritually connected (her visit to Elizabeth and the Magnificat). During Holy Week, one can’t miss seeing her at the foot of the cross, suffering with her son and mourning over his death. I am reminded of this whenever I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries, especially the fifth one where Jesus is crucified. I announce the crucifixion, pray the prayer He taught us, then hail his mother ten times with her looking up at her dying son. Then when it’s all over and Jesus has given His spirit to the Father, while Mary cradles the body of Our Lord in her arms, I am proclaiming, “Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope…” It always strikes me as incongruous to be calling to her for help instead of mourning with those who mourn.

None of us likes to see our Mamas cry. And even more discomforting is when my behavior causes my mother to weep. None of us wants to grieve God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit or Mary or our parents or our spouse or our children or our friends, etc. Nonetheless there are times when what we do or say causes pain or grief. We must then be open and empathetic, amend and comfort, and thank the good God above that we have people to weep for us and with us.

Our heavenly Mother is filled with joy when we are close to her son, and she sheds tears with us and for us when we are not doing so well in our relationship with the One who teaches us love by His example. Staying close to His mother, we are close to Him. May we be close enough to dry her tears and make her proud of us by being more like Him.