“When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her…” – Luke 7:13
The first reading and the Gospel passage for this Sunday tell a similar story. In both passages a boy, the son of a widow, is raised from the dead and restored to life. The prophet Elijah performs this miracle in the first reading, while our Lord Jesus works the wonder in the Gospel. Mercy is a central theme in both of these stories.
Let’s look specifically at the Gospel. It says that Jesus was “moved with pity” for the mother of the young man who had died. I wonder if Jesus saw some semblance of His own Mother in the face of that poor widow. Did He see in the widow’s tears the same anguish His Mother Mary would one day endure? Did He sense in her sorrow the same distress His Mother would one day suffer while He hung upon the Cross?
This scene gives us a glimpse into both the heart of God and the heart of Mary, the Mother of God. Perhaps it is fitting then that the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary occur on June 3rd and 4th, immediately preceding this Sunday.
First, consider the heart of Mary. Protected by God’s grace from the stain of original sin, she was disposed toward goodness from the very beginning of her life. Yet, she was no stranger to suffering. Although her world was muddied by fear and violence, her heart hoped unfailingly in God. She remained faithful to the Father’s will, even when she did not understand His ways, and held all these mysteries in her heart (Luke 2:51).
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is usually depicted in art as being pierced by a sword. This symbolizes the pain she experienced as the Mother of the Suffering Savior. Mary’s sorrowful heart can help us understand the merciful heart of Jesus. Our Lord is truly moved by compassion for all those in the throes of sorrow. His mercy is typically illustrated as tongues of fire which engulf His Sacred Heart. Much like a furnace, the fire of God’s love and mercy fuels Jesus to throw off the mantle of divinity and chase after His wounded children, wandering souls, and lost sheep.
A crown of thorns also encircles the Sacred Heart, and blood flows from its pierced side. These images represent suffering and sacrifice. However, I like to think that the thorns, which cause suffering, ultimately serve as kindling for the fire. In the same way, the blood pouring out does not quench the fire, but instead stirs up the flames like gasoline.
Let us pray that our own hearts may be purified by the burning love and mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus so that our hearts may be immaculate like Mary’s, and we may be raised again to new life, just like the boy in the Gospel.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. Amen.
