Let me stand with you O Mother
(A personal meditation based on the Stabat Mater. The Stabat Mater is a 13th century hymn in honor of Mary and is associated with the liturgy for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.).

Let me stand and mourn with you, O Mother standing ’neath the Cross, your loving eyes gazing up at your bleeding Son.  You saw your Son condemned to die like a common criminal; you heard them free a thief instead.  You watched him fall ’neath the weight of the beam placed across his torn shoulders after the whipping he received.  You wanted to run to him, to take away his crown of thorns, and to kiss his wounds, if only they would have let you near him.  You saw them nail him to the cross and toss dice for his cloak.  You watched him cry in agony (was it the nails or the feeling of being abandoned by His Father?)  You stood by Him.  Even as your tears fell.

Let me stand and mourn with you, O Mother.  Through your Son’s life you bore the pain. He was destined to be a sign that would be contradicted, and yes, Simeon was right; the sword did pierce your heart.  With the little babe in your arms, Joseph and you fled to save him from being slaughtered.  When the Child was missing for three days, you found him in his Father’s house.  When your own kinsfolk thought he was out of his mind, you went looking for him.  You pondered all these in your heart.  You stood by Him.  Even as your tears fell.

Let me stand and mourn with you, O Mother.  Permit me to mingle my tears with yours.  Allow me to share your grief.  Let me learn to feel as you do.  Help me understand the depth of His love for me, a sinner.  Foster in me the urgency to reach out to those in anguish.  Remove the complacency in me so that I become sensitive to the needs of others.  Let me hear these words everyday: “Woman, behold your son.”  For he died for me.  And you stood by Him.  Even as your tears fell.