Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus mentions the pain and forgetfulness of childbirth in today’s Gospel reading. I have witnessed my wife give birth twice, and I must confess I am glad I didn’t go through it. I’m grateful that my wife and other mothers tell me they don’t remember the pain.
While many of us have never given birth, we can relate to many struggles in our lives that are painful to endure, but bring new life and joy once they pass. Overcoming an illness, finding a new job, or a tough work project can seem impossible to accomplish at times. Yet, once we are finally able to turn the corner, we realize the joy of being healthy again, finding a better job, or success of completing a challenging project.
During this month of May, what grace do we need to ask of our Mother Mary to help us through our current “labor pains?”
—Tom Cattapan is the Associate Director of the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL and a graduate of Marquette University.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
—Traditional prayer
Please share the Good Word with your friends!
