Today we honor Our Lady of Sorrows, and something interesting happened in my prayer this morning.

In the first reading, Paul says, “We were all given to drink of one Spirit,” and then tells us to “strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.” That stood out to me. We are all given the same Spirit, but we still have to desire His gifts and open ourselves to what He wants to do in us.

Then I got to the Gospel.

Mary is standing at the foot of the Cross watching her Son suffer. She can’t stop it. She can’t fix it. She can’t change what is happening. And from the Cross Jesus says, “Behold, your mother.”

Before I really thought about any of that, I had already written down several things that were on my heart: frustration, an attachment to power, obedience, avoiding ego, being present to the job at hand, and returning to trust in God. I didn’t pick those things to fit some theme. They were just what I felt pulled to write down.

But then I looked at Mary.

She lived all of it.

Mary had every reason to want control, but she had none. She couldn’t take the suffering away. She simply remained there, present and obedient, trusting God even while watching her Son suffer.

And maybe that connects back to Paul’s words. If I am going to “strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts,” I have a pretty good mother to teach me how to receive them. Mary doesn’t want anything for herself. She wants to lead us to her Son. Like a good momma, she protects her children and helps them grow, but we have to open the door and let her.

Maybe that is why Jesus tells us from the Cross, “Behold, your mother.”

Look at her. Learn from her. Let her help us get to her Son.

Mother Mary, help me surrender what I cannot control, put aside my ego, obey your Son, and be open to every grace and gift the Holy Spirit wants to give me today.

I pray each of you receives the grace you need today.

Keep up the good fight.

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Scripture References:
1 Corinthians 12:12–14, 27–31a
John 19:25–27