Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord give you peace. As we gather today, on this Saturday dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are invited to reflect on the gradual persecution faced by our Lord Jesus Christ, which leads us toward the solemnity of Holy Week. The readings give us a good sense of the weight of conflict and misunderstanding that surrounded Jesus, which would merely be a foreshadowing of the great sacrifice that He would soon make for our salvation.
In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we hear the lament of a suffering servant who feels the sting of betrayal and conspiracy. Jeremiah describes this suffering servant as "a trusting lamb led to slaughter," illustrating the fate of the Son of God in such poignant language. It’s not so much a reference to Jesus as trusting in men, but rather in his Father – our Father. Those who were once eager to hear His words soon found themselves divided over His identity because he had a complete and utter disregard for the honours of men. He spoke the painful truth to all of them as a call to conversion, but instead of fasting and doing penance, they seek to put him to death.
Some hailed Him as the Prophet or the Messiah, while others dismissed Him because of His origins in Galilee. In a word, they were all over the place.
This growing opposition culminates in the Gospel passage from John, where division is explicitly noted among the people. Some recognize Jesus as the promised Christ, while others question His legitimacy based on their preconceived notions and interpretations of Scripture. The guards sent to arrest Him, instead of laying hands on Him, return with the astounding words, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." They, too, are caught in the web of conflicting opinions, revealing that Jesus is not a mere figure but a transformative presence that challenges established beliefs.
Yet, amid the divisions and the brewing storm of hostility toward Jesus, we encounter our Blessed Mother, Mary, who stands as a model of unwavering faith and a sure moral support to him. While the world around Jesus spins in confusion, Mary embodies a deeper trust in God's divine plan and remains for us an icon of grounded fidelity. Her "fiat," her acceptance of God's will at the Annunciation, sets the groundwork for her role as the Mother of Christ and a symbol of fidelity amidst chaos. When conflicts arise and persecution grows, Mary teaches us to hold steadfast in prayer and trust, knowing that God's justice will ultimately prevail, even when we cannot see it clearly.
As we continue our Lenten journey, we are called to reflect on our own responses to the struggles of faith. Are we like the crowds who marvel but fail to understand? Do we too harbour preconceptions that prevent us from seeing Christ in our midst? Mary invites us to ponder and listen, to keep the word of God in our hearts with a generous spirit, yielding a harvest of faith through perseverance.
Let us seek to imitate her example by uniting our struggles with those of Jesus. Just as Mary stood at the foot of the cross, enduring the pain of watching her Son suffer, we too are called to bear our crosses with love and dedication, trusting in God's goodness to guide us through the tumult of life.
In this Lenten season, let us take refuge in the Lord, as the Psalmist proclaims. With our Blessed Mother as our model, let us persevere in prayer and strive to deepen our relationship with Christ, actively participating in the unfolding of His passion and ultimately embracing the joy of resurrection that awaits.
May we too, even now, be a moral support to our Lord in a world which has grown cold to God’s life-changing grace. Mary, Queen and Mother Most Holy, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
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