Sunday, August 30, 2026 - Losing to find

The useful part

They got to the fourth Station where Jesus on the road to Calvary meets his mother. One boy suggested that Mary said, "This is unfair." Another girl suggested that she said, "Why me?" Finally, a sickly little girl raised her thin hand, got up and said: "Teacher, I know what the Blessed Mother told Jesus. She said to him, 'My son, keep on keeping on!'" Why would a mother encourage her only son on the way to crucifixion to keep on keeping on?

How it works

• The mother of Jesus would understand that if Jesus did not go to his cross, he would not be fulfilling the will of his Father, and if he did not do that, his life would have no meaning whatever.
• The mother of Jesus would know that only in his cross would he find his meaning and only in death would he find new life.
• This is why she would encourage her son never to give up or give in, but to persevere all the way even to ignominy, self-denial, the cross and yes, death itself.
• Today's readings begin with an example of what is called in scriptural writings a lament.
• The prophet Jeremiah laments about unbearable pain, anger, and misery at unspeakable horrors and uncontrollable events that surround him i...

Details worth keeping

The teacher explained that even though this incident was not narrated by any of the four evangelists, it was very much part of the tradition of the Church and though they may not have talked to each other, mother and son would surely have spoken just using their eyes.