Gospel: September 15, 2025
September 15, 2025 (Monday)
24th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 / (White)
Our Lady of Sorrows
Ps 28:2, 7, 8-9
Blessed be the Lord, for he has has heard my prayer.
1st Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Gospel: John 19:25-27 (or Luke 2:33-35)
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister Mary, who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw the mother, and the disciple whom he loved, he said to the mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “This is your mother.” And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home.
Reflection:
“Mary becomes Mother to us in all our sorrows.”
Mary stands by the cross of her son. She can do nothing to save him from his suffering and death. But what she is doing is important, nonetheless. She stays with him and does not run away in fear or despair. She is a support to her son at the hour of his death. Jesus then commends her to the beloved disciple so that she might become Mother of all disciples, that is, Mother of the Church. And so, Mary becomes Mother to us in all our sorrows. She stands with us in our trials to comfort us, and she is with us at the hour of our death, giving us the strength to trust in the Lord to the last, even if we feel abandoned in our pain and suffering. Mary also teaches us what we should do for others in their difficulties. We are to recognize their need and help in whatever way we can (cf. Jn 2:3-5). And if the suffering is unavoidable, we are to offer the invaluable service of staying by their side, quietly or wordlessly offering hope and comfort. Mary, stand by our side. Mother of Sorrows, pray for us.
