3.6 Response

STAGE 3: In Communion with Mary

MARY AND THE CROSS

THE PONDERING WAY

RESPONSE

Aim: To reflect on and learn from Mary’s Wisdom way of responding to sufferings.

Readings

Pondering (Lk 2:48-52): When Jesus’ parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety”. He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.

Standing (Jn 19:25): Standing near the cross of Jesus was his mother […].

Comment

How does the process of “pondering” or “symbàllo” apply concretely to life?

An event, that might cause pain and raise questions within me, is placed and scrutinized in an atmosphere of prayer. Suddenly, it makes me remember similar experiences that happened to me or to other people in the past, in which God manifested his faithfulness. Slowly, I regain back a sense of trust in life and I make a decision that comes from the wisdom of my heart. As I claim the event in God’s perspective, I feel awarded with a sense of joy and serenity that brings me, not merely to accept the changes caused by the initial event, but to celebrate them as carriers of a deeper, fuller and more Christ-like life.

Here is a concrete example, taken from the life of Mary. It is her “symbàllo” in reference to the death of Jesus on Calvary.

Happening. “So they took Jesus to Golgotha where they crucified him” (Jn 19:16-18).

Suffering. The prophecy of Simeon came true: “And you yourself shall be pierced with a sword” (Lk 2:35).

Questioning. Mary’s heart echoes with the same intensity the question of Jesus from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46; cf. Ps 22:2-9).

Remembering. While praying with Jesus Psalm 22, Mary is reminded of God’s faithfulness manifested in the past: “In you our fathers trusted; they trusted and you delivered them” (v. 5).

Deciding. Together with Jesus, Mary, consistent with her initial “fiat” (Lk 1:38), decides to trust the wisdom of her heart which brings her both to forgive her enemies and to commend herself completely to God: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34); “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (v. 46).

Rejoicing. Psalm 22, prayed at the foot of the cross, brings Mary to say: “I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you” (v. 22). In a more personalized way, she proclaims these words in her “Magnificat”, which was certainly composed in the light of the Resurrection of Jesus: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Lk 1:46-47).

Celebrating. “Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother” (Jn 19:25). Mary’s “standing” is an anticipated proclamation of the Resurrection. Her wisdom attitude of “pondering in her heart” makes her “stand” by the cross to the point of “transforming” it from foolishness to a manifestation of God’s power.

A diagram of the process of “symbàllo” is shown here: THE “SYMBÀLLO” PROCESS

Personal Reflection and Sharing

Using the dynamics of “symbàllein”, I give an overall look at my life and I ask: What new meanings result from my experience of suffering, as I place myself before God with the wisdom of Mary?

In what ways has the activity of “symbàllein”, or the wisdom of the heart, helped me to exceed and challenge the righteousness of the world? I give some examples.

[3-6] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER