Location: Bexar County Jail
Once again, I am so grateful to God to be here with you, in this special Mother’s Day. Thinking about our Sorrowful Mother, I would like to reflect with you on the transformative power of suffering, and how it can lead us to a deeper union with Christ and one another.
As we hear in the words of Pope Francis, “We hope that everything will be all right and then, like a bolt from the blue, an unexpected problem arises. Our expectations clash painfully with reality. That can also happen in the life of faith, when the joy of the Gospel is put to the test in troubling situations. (…) the Mother of God teaches us to draw profit from this clash. She shows us that it is necessary: it is the narrow path to achieve the goal, the cross, without which there can be no resurrection. Like the pangs of childbirth, it begets a more mature faith.”
The reading from the Book of Acts reminds us that even the great St. Paul faced trials and opposition in his ministry. Yet, the Lord appeared to him in a vision, saying “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.” The Lord was with Paul, and would protect him, for He had “many people in this city.” Similarly, you are not alone in your suffering. Christ is with you, sustaining you by His grace.
The Psalmist sings, “God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.” Though you may feel surrounded by darkness, know that God reigns supreme. He has conquered sin and death through the Paschal Mystery – the suffering, death, and resurrection of His Son. As Jesus Himself said, “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Lk 24:26).
In the Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” Though you may now experience sorrow and suffering, take heart – for your sorrow will be transformed into the joy of the Resurrection.
As the Blessed Virgin Mary stood at the foot of the Cross, she united her suffering to that of her Son. And through that union, she became the Mother of all believers. So too, your own suffering, when united to Christ, can become a source of redemption and new life. The Risen Lord wishes to enter the soul of every person who suffers through the heart of his Blessed Mother.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe wrap you in her mantle of love and lead you to the healing embrace of her Son.
