Homily: September 15, 2025, Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows (Entrustment)

 “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”

This arrangement, spoken from the Cross, may look like a simple and practical arrangement for the care of His surviving mother, but truly, it carries a deeper and profound truth. It is one of the ‘seven last words of Jesus’.

Quite naturally and obviously, He entrusted the care of His beloved Mother to someone reliable and obedient. He gave her to John. And at the same time, He also entrusted the continued nurturing of John, His beloved disciple, to His Mother.

Jesus had no earthly possessions which will wither and end to leave behind. What He left, as a lasting forever legacy to His disciples and as a gift of eternity to all believers to come, was the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. Now from the Cross, He is giving to the whole of humanity something personal: His own Mother,  whom He took His human flesh and blood from when she carried Him in her womb.

Why John the beloved apostle? First, at the foot of the Cross, only John was with Mary, remaining there with Jesus till His last breath and the one to console the sorrowful Mother. John was also the only apostle who lived long enough to care for Mary till her last breath on earth.

In return, John received the gift of Mary, a mother who knows human suffering, who fully understands the deep sorrows of separation and who appreciates the battles at the final hour of death. She witnessed and experienced it at the cross.

John, received this gift of Mary, on behalf of the Church, and the world.

Throughout history, Mary continues to weep for her children. At La Salette in France in 1846, she appeared to two children with tears streaming down her face, grieving over the sins of the world. Her tears are the tears of a mother who mourns for her sons and daughters who face eternal condemnation if they do not return to God. Her tears are the tears of a mother who keeps coming to her wayward children to encourage them, warn them and teach them how to return to God.

I have seen many mothers cry for children who are rebellious, unrepentant, sick, far from the faith, or deeply wounded. Mary knows exactly how these mothers feel. She walks with them, and consoling, praying, and interceding for all their children, because they too are her children.

On this feast, Mary our Mother, asks us to entrust all our pains and sorrows to her, and she will carry them with her loving heart to her Son.

Mary, Mother of Sorrows, pray for us.