Our Lady of Sorrows

I was also grateful for the sorrows of Our Lady, grateful for that organic Catholic attentiveness to the whole of life that includes hope and faith in the Resurrection, but does not ignore the sorrow. That takes Jesus' words about suffering seriously and to heart.

I was struck both by the Scriptures and the homily, which emphasized Jesus' preparing the apostles for what was to come. How did he prepare them? He gave them a glimpse of glory, but did not fail to warn them of the suffering on the way. Did they listen? Do we?

And although I try to minimize the effect on me, it all sent me into a mild fury regarding attempts to strip the story of pain, to render the Gospel nothing but a collection of helpful aphorisms, to remove the crucifixes, to exhort us to go out and simply be kind.

For the Gospel - the Good News - is not just about words - a message given by a prophet to which we politely listen and either accept or reject. It is about what really happens in life, about God entering that place, and transforming it.

That "place" is this life of brokenness, loss, sin, sorrow and death. Jesus did not come to teach us how to pretend all of that doesn't exist or to talk our way out of it or even how to make it through or explain it.

He came to be in it, to transform it. To journey through it, to reconcile in the way that only his sacrifice could.

To strip a church, church, liturgy and devotional life of those elements does no one any favors, for such an act pushes aside the totality of what God, in his passion, compassion and mercy has done - and still does, which is the point.

I was also grateful for liturgy - Catholic liturgy, although it is certainly characteristic of almost all liturgy, by nature - that lets me be. That prays and sings and chants of God's love and mercy, of repentance and forgiveness, of justice...and gives me the freedom to enter this place in whatever way I choose. That does not manipulate me or try to direct my emotions. That does not demand that I respond with a certain level or type of emotion. That does not make myself and my life the center of the drama, but rather points me relentless, but compassionately and authentically, towards Christ. And allows me the space to listen...and respond, out of freedom, in my own way, on my own time. To listen.

 It is good that we are here.