Life is not all roses and rainbows. We should know that by now.
Neither is our faith.
Today as we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we stand with Mary at the foot of the Cross.
We share in her sorrow as the sword pierced her heart in seeing her Son suffer and die on the Cross.
That sword of sorrow had been foretold long ago by Simeon when she and Joseph brought Jesus to be presented at the Temple.
Even though Mary knew that sorrow was in store for her, she stood by Jesus all the way to the Cross.
And Mary will also stand by us in our moments of sorrow, because on the Cross, Jesus gave her to us to be our mother.
And just as Mary's sorrow turned to joy at the Resurrection, let us hold on to our faith in God's promises.
Our sorrows will also turn to joy as we see the roses and rainbows of God's promises being fulfilled.