In our beautiful Cathedral, we have a mural that hangs directly behind the crucifix at the altar.
The mural is by Murillo of the Annunciation fitting since our Cathedral is named the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Mary. The Annunciation depicts the angel Gabriel kneeling before Mary, telling her the good news of a son to be born of her and of Mary’s Fiat saying yes to God’s plan in her life. One can imagine not only the trepidation but also unbounded joy that Mary must have felt at this announcement. “The Lord has done great things for me and holy is His Name.”
So is it not ironic that at the same time Gabriel is blessing Mary with this message that just in front of the image is the crucified Christ on the cross? The most terrible agony of the Blessed Mother.
And when we reflect on our lives, do we not find sometimes that during times of great sorrow or distress in our lives, that something joyous or beautiful also appears?
Is it not with trust that we must keep plodding on through sorrows, through hard times and acknowledge the joys that make their appearance sometimes at those times also? If we don’t we are perhaps missing out on the beauty of our faith. The total disparity that awakens our souls to the divine. How can something so joyous happen when we are feeling so upset?
It hopefully reminds us of the disparity Mary felt, each time she held things in her heart. Those sorrows she would experience seeing her son ridiculed and beaten, hanging on the cross yet also knowing He was here to open the gates of Heaven for her and all mankind.
Her life was truly ecstasy and agony and yet she left us a gracious and glorious gift of gentleness, calmness and peacefulness.
We await the coming of our Lord at Christmas. We know we must continue to suffer in this life. So we pray that we too can not ignore the joys and sprinkle among our sorrows for that is what life is about. Waiting for glorious resurrection of our all souls, eternally united with God.
