Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
Jesus himself said that he did "not come to bring peace, but a sword" (see Matthew 10:34). He was in his own person God's offer of salvation to the human race, and henceforth individuals would rise or fall based on their response to him. This rise or fall might not be immediately obvious and apparent in the visible worldly results. Indeed those results might be quite the opposite. Following Jesus might lead to a fall in status or position in this world, since those powers hostile to God, the rulers of this present age, the prideful and the arrogant would be hostile also to those who put their faith in Christ. But choosing Christ would lead eventually but inexorably to being raised up in glory with him. Yet that the immediate and visible results of following Christ seemed negative, and the results of doing otherwise seemed to lead to more immediate success and gratification meant that he would continue to be a sign that was contradicted. It took faith to recognize the promises that were to be found in Jesus. They could not necessarily be worked out by repeated experiments or statistical models. It was not that what Jesus had to offer was entirely invisible or that it meant waiting through this life for something entirely to be received in the hereafter. But it did require the eyes of faith, and a mind enlightened by the light of faith, to access the promise found in Christ both here and now and hereafter. And of this faith there is no better model than Mary herself.
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate (see Luke 1:52).
Mary was willing to be so identified with her Son that this division he caused would pierce her own heart as well. She shared her Sons desire that he bring salvation to all mankind, and felt more deeply than anyone the suffering he himself experienced when he was rejected by those he came to save. She was able to do this because of her trust in God and in the plan he was unfolding through the life of her Son. Had she believed that what she was experiencing was truly and finally a fall she could not have remained so closely united to Jesus, and would probably have ended up trying to divert him from the Father's will, just as Peter tried to do. Peter could not bear to be present at the cross because his faith could not yet see beyond the temporary storm of darkness. But Mary was present there, still even then hoping against hope in the face of the apparent end of all hope.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."
Because Mary was completely committed to identification with her Son, and because her trust in him was unwavering, she can teach us to trust during our own sorrows. She can help us to see beyond the limited horizon of our immediate suffering to the hope that must somehow eventually be revealed. It is then that we too will be able to stand near Jesus in his sorrow. Doing so means that we will be able to offer him comfort, by comforting others in sorrow. And it means that our own sufferings will become powerful by becoming united with his suffering. Present there with him at the cross can join Paul in "filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church" (see Colossians 1:24).
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