Traditional Catholic Teaching

PALM SUNDAY

(See "Note" which introduces last Sunday's Sermon.)

"There stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother." John 19: 25.

Never does our Lady appear greater than as she stands by her Divine Son's Cross and watches His agony and death. In all her other sufferings it was only in the figurative sense that she sacrificed herself to the Lord, but here she actually took part in Christ's sacrifice of atonement by her intense sympathy with Him. Here, by suffering with Her Son for us, she became entitled to be our mother. It is incomprehensible how any one can refuse to venerate Mary and to place implicit confidence in her intercession, after reading the simple words of the Gospel: "There stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother." If no other fact about her were recorded in the Bible, this one alone would be enough to bind us to her with love and gratitude for having sacrificed herself with Jesus for our sake.

Abraham's sorrow was intense when he had to take his son Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him there, and his obedience made him glorious under the old dispensation. But he was spared the hardest and most painful task, as he was not allowed to slay his son. No one, however, equalled him in obedience and submission to God until Mary stood by the Cross. She, too, saw her Son carry the wood for the sacrifice up Mount Calvary, she saw Him flung by the executioners upon the Cross; the blows of the hammer drove the nails not only through His hands and feet, but also at the same time through His Mother's tender heart. She watched the men lift up the Cross and let it fall roughly into a hole prepared to receive it; she beheld Him, the Man of Sorrows, tortured in every part of His body; His head was pierced by thorns, His face disfigured by blows, His parched lips were moistened only with gall; from His hands and feet the Blood dripped down it was thus that Jesus hung upon the Cross, and by that Cross His Mother stood. Well indeed may the Church exclaim, when contemplating her sorrow "O, thou Mother, fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord, make me feel as thou hast felt, make my soul to glow and melt, with the love of Christ my Lord."

She is indeed an inexhaustible fount of love, whose love could not be diminished by the most intense agony that she suffered for Jesus' sake. Inexhaustible was her love, too strong to be overcome by the insults and shameful outrages heaped upon her Son. She is the fount of our love of God, since by standing by the Cross she has set us the most beautiful and encouraging example of true, devoted love of Jesus. If we contemplate her, we realise the power of Divine love, and feel ourselves strong to endure everything for love of God, and even to accomplish the hardest tasks. She showed us the power of her love best beside the Cross, for, as Holy Scripture records, she stood by the Cross. It is her steadfast love that we admire in her, and that we ought to learn from her.

The disciples had fled, but she stood fearlessly by the Cross. The Jews might despise her, her Divine Son's enemies might deride her, His poor Mother; they might even in their cruelty kill her, too, out of hatred for Him, but her love was stronger than death. Where were the multitudes who had followed Jesus and greeted Him with cries of "Hosanna"? Where were the crowds whom He had healed and to whom He had brought joy and happiness? Some had been influenced by the prevalent opinion, and had actually joined His enemies, so that they gloated over the wounds of Him who had healed their wounds, and over the death of One to whom they owed their own life. Others were less ungrateful, but still disloyal. At heart they believed in Him, but had no courage to confess it, and so they hid themselves, mourning in secret; incapable, through weakness of character, to come forward, suffer and die with Him. In comparison with these weak, thankless hearts, how great and strong appears the tender, fearless heart of Mary, faithful unto death. She stood by the Cross.

Sorrow threatened to overwhelm her, and unspeakable agony oppressed her, yet she did not sink down in despairing grief − no, she stood by the Cross. Tears streamed from her eyes, as if she would Pain weep out her very life, but she complained not at what was the will of God, she stood by the Cross; the earth quaked, the graves were opened, the rocks were cleft and the sky grew dark – all the multitude was astounded, the Roman centurion beat his breast with remorse, heaven and earth, men and spirits were all in a state of disturbance, fear and horror − yet, amidst all stood Mary, a glorious example of steadfastness even in the greatest uproar.

Whence did our Lady derive her strength? We have the greater reason to ask this question, because we, too, have urgent need of strength and steadfastness. We have not always friends at hand encouraging us to do right and setting us a good example, and if a time should come when we have to stand alone amongst those who mock at the Cross, when we have no outward support, but are required to hold fast to our faith and morals in opposition to those about us, then we may learn too late that we have been deceiving ourselves and fancying ourselves strong, unless now we take care to acquire the virtue on which our inward strength and faith depend.

Whence, therefore, did our Lady derive her strength? Had she relied upon herself, she would have given way and despaired during those terrible hours on Calvary; but she had kept nothing back; she had given herself up absolutely to God, and trusting to Him, she stood firm during that time of agony.

Submission to God, reliance upon Him, to have no wish but that His Will be done, to be free from self-love, to make no claim to know better than He does − these are the things that make us strong in hours of trial and give us peace and strength. By submission to God we mean more than mere endurance of the lot assigned us by Him, more than a thoughtless drifting along the stream of life, more than a lazy indifference that believes God will provide; he who really submits to God will always be active, working unwearyingly in the sphere in which he is placed; he will fight, labour, and even die for God's honour. Submission means doing what God wills, and if our work is not successful in spite of our efforts, suffering as God wills. Direct, therefore, all your thoughts, wishes, words and works to God; order your lives in accordance with His will; stand always by the Cross. Never yield to ridicule, never fear danger or loss, but stand fearlessly by the Cross, although to many that Cross appears only a folly and stumbling-block. Stand by the Cross, and if it proves too hard for you to hold out and endure, have recourse to Mary, the steadfast Mother of Sorrows. She never has allowed any to fall who have relied upon her; may her love be with you, making you brave and strong, steadfast and calm in holy submission to God. Amen.

End of Sermon

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