Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34)
It is Holy Saturday and Jesus lays lifeless in a garden tomb. Today is a perfect time to ponder his life - as I'm sure the disciples and apostles in Jerusalem were doing. And what better place to start than by reflecting on the woman who gave him life. Twice in the Gospel of Luke, we hear that Mary pondered what was happening in her heart. The first was when the Shepherds arrived in Bethlehem bringing news from the angels. The second was when Jesus left his parents and was found waiting for them in ‘his Father’s house,’ the temple of God.
Luke, who knew Mary and heard her stories before writing his Gospel, gives us this detail to help us understand the heart of Mary. It’s a heart that receives, a heart that reflects, a heart that ponders.
Imagine what her heart was going through Good Friday? She followed Jesus the entire way to his cross, never leaving his side. Not once did she call out, “Jesus, my Son, get off the cross!” Not once did she beg through teary eyes, “Jesus, for my sake, honor your mother! Make this stop!” No, she pondered and she walked and she suffered and she gave him her eyes. She offered him her strength. She lifted him up.
We know Jesus was perfect in everything and never sinned. So, we know he honored his mother. We see this at Cana when he responds to Mary’s concern for the wedding party. “Woman, my hour has not yet come.” And yet, despite this, he listened to Mary’s request and performed his first miracle. Imagine the pain Mary would have caused Jesus if she asked him to get off the cross? Peter didn’t understand why Jesus had to die and we remember the chastisement given to Peter. What if Mary had asked the same? Would Jesus have honored her? How would he have reconciled her request with his mission - with the Commandments? The good news is Mary didn’t. She was silent just like her son, following him to the cross.
Thank God for Mary. She gave us life twice. In her yes to his conception and in her yes to his death. "Be it done unto me according to thy word." And, because of her receptivity to the word of God, a sword pierces her soul. St. Paul tells us about this sword in Ephesians. He says it is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." It is this spirit that overshadows Mary in Nazareth and this spirit that penetrates her very soul at Calvary. In her restraint, Mary embodies the Holy Spirit and is prepared for her task - to Mother the Church.
"Woman, behold your son. Son behold your mother." Mary stands beside those who face the cross - beside the Church - as our Mother. We can be sure that on Holy Saturday, just as Mary pondered her son's conception, his life and his death, she was pondering this gift she was given on Calvary. She was bringing us into her heart too.
Let us then turn to Our Mother Mary today. Let's ask her to open her pondering heart and tell us stories of her son who is our brother Jesus. He is coming tomorrow.