A Moment To Pause: Monday May 25th 2026 Week 8 Ordinary Time

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Sarah Braid, a member of the Oblate Parish of St Joseph's, Colwyn Bay. Today's gospel is from the Holy Gospel according to the Gospel of John Chapter 19, verses 25 to 34. When I think about it and have a moment of reflection and a moment of pause the thing that jumps out of me is Mary's journey. Mary's journey is built on faith. At the Annunciation, she's asked to trust without fully understanding. And at the cross, that faith is tested in the most painful way imaginable for a mother. She stands before the violence, the hatred and the suffering inflicted on her son. But she refuses to abandon him. She remains present. She can't stop what's happening, but she won't leave. Many others have left, but she stays. Mary's courage is supported also by the presence of other women.Her friends beside her. This I also find wonderful. Maybe a reminder that even in grief, we are not meant to stand on our own and our friends can be there for us. In the midst of this horrific moment, Jesus's words are deeply tender. “Behold your mother.” “Behold your son.” So even when he's dying, he creates for eternity. He wants the community. He asks us to care. He asks people to look after one another and forms a new family rooted in love and fellowship and honour and obviously humanity. Often I don't think we fully understand what God is doing in our lives, but we can ask Mary to share with us her courage, her faithfulness, and her ability to remain present. This is very important in life to be there for people. Stand calmly and be present. And we can remember Christ's constant call to care for one another, and especially in moments of suffering. Thanks for joining us this morning.