March 12, 2025

Have you ever been hurt by someone to whom you were particularly close, or whom you admired? This can cause such a painful wound! It can feel so painful that it seems impossible that it would heal. Can it be healed? One big way that helps in healing these kinds of hurts, is forgiveness.

If you could choose a person or moment from the Stations of the Cross, and imagine that you were there, who would you choose? You could be Simon of Cyrene or Veronica, or others. Recently, when praying with this, what came to my mind was an image of Mary at the foot of the Cross. The thought came to me of what it would have been like for Mary, watching Jesus in agony, and Dismas, sometimes known as “The Good Thief,” pleading with her Son for mercy. One of the many sinners who was causing Jesus to suffer so much, was asking for forgiveness. How would Mary have responded to this? It would have been easy to be angry or hurt. She could have thought, “You, a sinner, are causing me and my Son so much pain.” And springing from a thought such as this, could have come anger, hatred or disgust. And yet, that is not how she responded. Mary’s heart forgave. She forgave Dismas, she forgave the soldiers. She continues to forgive and invites each one of us to follow her example. Perhaps I can stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary, look up at Jesus, and see Him dying for me, for you, and for everyone who has ever hurt us. Perhaps, if I continue to look to her, and to Jesus, I might be able to follow their example.

Sister Mary Agnes, C.K.