Today is both the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time as well as the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Sundays receive precedence over feasts, so the readings at Mass don’t explicitly focus on Mary this year, but can still be connected to her.

We know that Mary walked with Jesus and was at his feet during the crucifixion, but we don’t often ponder what that would have been like for her. Jesus experienced physical anguish and had his heart physically pierced, but Mary too was pierced in a different way. How often do we view Christ’s act of redemption as something distant from ourselves and view ourselves as distant from the cross?

I am drawn to remember one stanza from the Sequence for Our Lady of Sorrows: “By the cross with you to stay, there with you to weep and pray, is all I ask of you to give.” Christ’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection are not distant. They are made present at every Mass, and we are united with him as we experience suffering in our lives. It is easy to want to distance ourselves from trials and suffering, but to be able to choose to stay with Mary at the foot of the cross amid our sorrow, grief, and pain, is a beautiful blessing.

What is preventing you from staying at the foot of the cross?

Lord, help me to bring everything to the foot of your cross and to walk through my life alongside your Mother, Mary. Amen.