The Sword that Pierced Mary’s Soul
will pierce your own soul too.

The Sword that pierced Mary’s soul
was not the sword that pierced
the side of her son.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It was her Son’s tongue,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The  Word of God  is a two edged sword.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The Sword that pierced Mary’s soul                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             pierces yours and mine as well.

Mary – mother of Jesus, daughter of God
what did you think when you heard him say
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do?
Did you hear him say
You have to forgive them too?

The sword words that pierce every person’s soul
pierced Mary’s too
You must forgive as I have forgiven you.

Everyone who lives by the sword, dies by the sword
Which sword will you choose?

There are times when it is very difficult to forgive other people.  How did Jesus, the One whom many believe to be God Incarnate, the One whom we have called three persons in one, Father, Son and Spirit do it?  When I struggle with issues of forgiveness, when it seems I can’t find the words to say, I forgive you.  I turn to the cross and ponder the many words Jesus spoke in his last conversations on earth.  I grew up hearing them every year.

When I was young we went to all the Lenten services and heard the stories every year.  But it wasn’t until I was an adult and began truly struggling with my own personal issues of forgiveness that I began to study and struggle with Word of God to gain understanding.  With understanding came a deeper sense of grace and love.

From the cross, Jesus

• gave up his Spirit to God.
• promised one of the men who hung on his own cross near Jesus, that he would be with him in the Kingdom of Heaven.
• looked at and listened to the people gathered around the cross, those who had sent him to trial, those who had mocked him, those who had called out “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!,                      and those who had called out, He can’t save himself, how can he save others?
• said, “Father, forgive them. . . “

His mother Mary heard it all, and she heard her son say, ‘Father, forgive them . . . ”  These words must have pierced her soul – Mary did not call out a cry of revenge.  In her hour of grief, she remained mute.  I think she was leaning into all the Words of Life that had been spoken to her about her Son from the moment of his conception through this moment.  I think she was listening intently to him when he said . . . Mother, here is your son, and to his brother, here is your mother.   Charging them to care for and love one another during their time of grief and struggle with forgiving so many people who had betrayed Jesus.

Sometimes, the way to peace in our hearts, in our souls, in our minds – is to forgive as Jesus forgave – and say,                                                                                                                                                   ‘Father, forgive them, and help me.  Into your hands I commit my spirit, take me and lead me in your way while I am alive upon this earth.’

Let us pray,

Lord God, forgive us for the times we ignore your Word, the very Words that give us life, fill us with more of the gifts of your Holy Spirit, especially the Spirit of Love.  Grant us Wisdom and Discernment as we share your Word, your Hope, your Love, your Life, with others so they are drawn, not so much to us, Lord God, but to You Lord God.  We ask this for the sake of the building up of your Heavenly kingdom here on earth, that the peoples of the world may receive and experience the inheritance of peace that you desire to give us.  AMEN