Catholic Thought discussion

Step 5: Sharing the Sword – Mary’s Participation in Her Son’s Sufferings (Luke 2:22-40)

This chapter is about Simeon’s prophecy. To Simeon was revealed that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. Mary is about to present Jesus, the firstborn son, to the temple as it is custom and Simeon commands the scene. He proclaims that this baby is the salvation that had been prophesied by Isaiah. He will be the one who will “carry out the Lord’s universal mission to the nations.
But Mary will also suffer greatly as her son will be rejected by his people.
The sword of which Simeon speaks, rhomphaia, is a large, two-edged sword of a warrior and emphasizes how great her anguish will be.

Step 6: Waling in Darkness (Luke 2:41 – 52)

The finding in the Temple. Mary and Joseph make the annual trip to the Temple in Jerusalem with a large group of fellow pilgrims. As they leave after the required sacrifices have been made, they are not aware the now twelve-year-old Jesus is not part of the group. When they find out they return to Jerusalem and it takes three anxious days to find him. He is in the Temple.
This passage is remarkable as it parallels Christ’s passion. Jesus is seemingly gone for three days.
Here we get a first glimpse of Jesus’ mission. He distinguishes between his family on earth and his heavenly Father. His first commitment is to his heavenly Father while at the same time honoring and obeying his earthly family. Even though Mary doesn’t fully understand she is invited to participate in her son’s earthly mission. “By going through these dramatic events, which foreshadow Christ’s passion, Mary is brought deeper into the mystery of her son’s work of redemption. Over these three days, she experiences the mystery of suffering turned to joy in a way that anticipates Christ’s death and resurrection.”

Kerstin, you probably know this, but there is a Seven Sorrows rosary--I pray this one on Saturdays-- It's on both the Laudate and Hallow apps, and on YouTube. Sri's book is a guide guide to meditating-- seven decades, seven beads on each.

I have one of those rosaries, though I must admit I haven't prayed it in a long time. What a great idea to pray it on Saturdays!

I have prayed it without the special rosary. I have an audio on my ipod and I have prayed along. But not in a while though. It is a very good chaplet.

I found the section on “The Soul and the Sword” to be incredibly insightful. This:

Interestingly, Mary is the only person in Luke’s Gospel whose soul is mentioned and described. And Luke refers to Mary’s soul not just once, but twice. The first mention of Mary’s soul is in the Magnificat, when Mary says, “My soul [psychē] magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46). The second and only other mention of Mary’s soul is here in the Presentation scene where Simeon says to her, “a sword will pierce your soul [psychē] also.” If one were to view these two references to Mary’s soul together, perhaps the following spiritual reflection could be drawn out: Mary’s soul magnifies God the most by participating in the sword of Christ’s sufferings. In the Magnificat we learn that Mary’s soul magnifies, makes great, the Lord. In the Presentation scene, we learn more about how her soul magnifies the Lord, how her soul gives God the most praise when it shares in the sacrificial love of her son—in other words, when her soul is pierced by the sword.

That Mary is the only one in Luke who has the state of their soul mentioned is pretty interesting. But I don’t think I’ve ever really contemplated the Presentation scene deeply. Yes, that prophesy of the sword piercing her soul connects her with Christ’s sufferings. Just as Christ had a sword pierce his body, Mary has a sword pierce her heart.

This made me wonder how often the Bible refers to the soul and in what context.

That's a good question.

Manny wrote : This passage is remarkable as it parallels Christ’s passion. Jesus is seemingly gone for three days.

It truly is remarkable, Manny. And I had a real "duh" moment while realizing that during my reading. How could I have not noticed the parallels before this? I reflect on the passage every time I pray the Joyous Mysteries. Probably because I always consider the scene through the lens of Mary.