The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Corinthians 12:31--13:13 or Hebrews 5:7-9
Psalm 31:2-6,15-16,20
John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel. (Luke 2:34)

The world thinks of love as a self-fulfilling emotion meant to provide one with experiences that range from warm, tender feelings to wild, ecstatic pleasures. Should these wane with time, divorce or alienation of the partnership results and the search for a more pleasing relationship ensues. Such human fickleness is the result of our having distanced ourselves from God, the very source and purest expression of genuine love.

Love is not a mere "feeling" subject to constant change; it is an act of the will. Those who know and love God realize that love is a self-giving, self-sacrificing commitment to another; and this sincere, genuine and lasting love can only be infused into our hearts by God Himself. Apart from God our responses toward others stem mainly from our personal, selfish desires.

Christ is God's ultimate expression of His love for humanity. We, as Christians, are called to live in this same steadfast and selfless love shown by Jesus, an innocent man who accepted death on the cross for our salvation. We, in turn, must extend to others this same forgiveness and mercy that God has shown to us in Christ. By grace we can accept, without rancor and with perfect forgiveness others' imperfections. True love is never self-indulgent.

As we celebrate the memorial of "Our Lady of Sorrows," let us recall the great, loving sacrifice made by Mary in giving her sinless Son for the salvation of sinful humanity.

Redeemer God,
fill us with the desire and ability
to love one another
as You love us. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2004 The Way, The Truth, The Life

posted by joachim at 4:28 AM