Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleofas, and Mary of Magdala. 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.
The Word in other words
"I'm expecting a baby and I've just found out that he is suffering from Down Syndrome (DS). I'm really scared: what kind of life will my child have?" Thus opens the heart-warming youtube video clip addressed to a woman in real life expecting a baby with Down Syndrome. The video allays the woman's fears with a stirring message from 15 wonderful people with DS. "Dear future mom, don't be afraid, your child will be able to do many things." "He'll be able to hug you," one says, "He'll be able to speak and tell you that he loves you," another one says, "Dear future mom, your child can be happy." The message of the video strongly contrasts the fact that about 90 percent of unborn children diagnosed with DS are killed by abortion.
Today, after yesterday's feast of the exaltation of the cross, we are invited to journey back in time with Mary as she embraces her crosses in union with Christ's salvific role. The circumstances around Mary's pregnancy were difficult enough for the expectant mother. The nativity story was far from being postcard perfect. And now, 40 days after the birth of Jesus, Simeon prophesies: "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce..." To the young Mary these words must have evoked a great fear of the unknown. True, the angel at the Annunciation told her not to fear- but after nine months of wonder, anticipation, and fulfillment these words were shockingly harsh. We are told that Mary "pondered all these things in her heart"- and somehow she believed that everything would be well; how, she had no inkling yet. She had many lessons yet to learn and sorrows yet to bear before that glorious Easter morning when her Son stood radiant before, as if saying, "Mom, your child is happy!"
Mary, our Lady of Sorrows, will teach us too, to embrace our immeasurably smaller crosses, to trust in God's infinite love, and to look beyond our fears so we can share in Christ's redemptive work. With Mary we can learn to be persons of strength, contemplating in silence, standing in faith and love, particularly in times of darkness and suffering.
- Fr. Oliver Quilab, SVD (Germany)
