AND YOU YOURSELF A SWORD WILL PIERCE

Heb 5,7-9; Ps 30; Jn 19,25-27 opp. Lk 2,33-35
15 SEPTEMBER
Abraham offering his only son to the Father, the son of his love and hope is the true image of the Virgin Mary, at the foot of the cross, she also to offer to the Father her only Son, Christ Jesus, in sacrifice and holocaust love.

Sometime after these events, God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Ready!” he replied. Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey, took with him his son Isaac, and two of his servants as well, and with the wood that he had cut for the holocaust, set out for the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar. Then he said to his servants: “Both of you stay here with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over yonder. We will worship and then come back to you.” Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the holocaust and laid it on his son Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham. “Father!” he said. “Yes, son,” he replied. Isaac continued, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?” “Son,” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust.”

Then the two continued going forward. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the Lord’s messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. Abraham named the site Yahweh-yireh; hence people now say, “On the mountain the Lord will see.” Again the Lord’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing – all this because you obeyed my command” (Gen 22,1-18).

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol (Heb 11,17-19).

Love is always pierced. The more we love, the more we must become in the image of Lord Jesus. As from his broken heart, struck by the spear, the blood and water of our eternal redemption came out, so it must also happen for the Virgin Mary. As a heart that loves, even her heart must be pierced by the lance of suffering, so that the water and blood of eternal life flow from it.

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Abraham loves his God. From his pierced heart his God has caused to spring blessing for all peoples. Christ loves his Father. From his heart pierced by his great, infinite charity flows the water of salvation for all peoples. The Virgin Mary loves her Lord. Even from her heart pierced by the sword of love comes out the water of all mercy, pity and compassion. Whoever wants to work redemption in Christ, for Christ and in Christ, he too must love his Father so much so as to reach to the effusion from his heart lacerated by the grace of conversion and salvation for his brothers. The more one loves, the more love breaks the heart, the more salvation is produced.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the Christian becomes in Christ the grace of salvation.