September 15th, 2018

DAY

LECTIONARY
219

FIRST READING
1 COR 10:14-22

My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.
I am speaking as to sensible people;
judge for yourselves what I am saying.
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one Body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.

Look at Israel according to the flesh;
are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
So what am I saying?
That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?
Or that an idol is anything?
No, I mean that what they sacrifice,
they sacrifice to demons, not to God,
and I do not want you to become participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?

PSALM
verses

Response: To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.

GOSPEL
JN 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Daily Reflection

15th September 2018

Our Lady of Sorrows

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows follows the feast of the Triumph of the Cross to highlight Mary’s role as the perfect disciple, completely in union with her Son’s suffering.

Like Jesus, Mary too was steadfast and obedient to God. Her initial “Yes” to God resounded throughout her life. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows serves to underline these moments, where though Mary possibly found herself confounded, she took a leap of faith, pondering things in her heart and giving of herself to God.

Her ‘test of faith’ began with the flight into Egypt and was followed by the loss of Jesus in the Temple at age 12, prefiguring the still to come anguish of seeing her Son endure His Passion, being crucified, the taking down of the body and its final burial... events that will make any mother wince in pain. In all these events, Simeon’s prophecy rings true, “A sword will pierce your heart”. Despite her pain, Mary remains faithful to her “Yes” to God, thus becoming a model for all those who seek to follow her son.