THIS IS A GREAT AND MYSTERIOUS THING - the tears of Mary. Her anguish must matter because years before, when Jesus was an infant, Simeon had told her: "A sword of sorrow will pierce your soul." Surely Simeon meant more than just watch out or get ready.
Tears can heal. We feel better after a good cry. I can wonder about the healing value of Mary's tears. What did she know? How did she share in all of this? Though the hour for Jesus to undertake the work of his suffering and death was known only to the Father, it was Mary who got Jesus started by proposing he begin at the Cana wedding (John 2: 1-11).
Mary seems to possess a painful secret and she weeps. And my own bitter tears? - over personal wounds and secrets, over the world's sad scenes, over the pain I may have caused, the personal knowledge I have that is sometimes too much to bear.
Silence
Our Father Who Art in Heaven...
Hail Mary full of grace...
Glory be to the Father...
