Mal. 3:1-4; Heb 2:10-11, 13b-18; Lk. 2:22-40
The idea that the Messiah would cause both the downfall and the exaltation of people in Israel is rooted in the Old Testament. The history of Israel is one of repeated cycles of judgment and restoration, of falling and rising. The Fall of the Proud and the Rise of the Humble is a recurring theme in the Old Testament.
The story of Pharaoh in Exodus illustrates how resistance to God leads to downfall. Pharaoh's hardened heart led to plagues and the destruction of Egypt’s army in the Red Sea, while the oppressed Israelites rose to freedom.
Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:7-8 prefigures Mary’s Magnificat: "The Lord brings low, he also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap." The coming of Jesus continues this divine pattern—those who humble themselves will be lifted up, while the proud will fall.
Many saints experienced what Jesus' prophecy suggests: opposition, suffering, and the revealing of hearts.
John the Baptist called for repentance and prepared the way for Jesus. Many responded with faith, but others, like Herod and the Pharisees, opposed him. His martyrdom is a testimony to how truth provokes resistance.
During the English Reformation, Thomas More opposed King Henry VIII’s claim over the Church. He was executed, yet his stand for truth and conscience proved prophetic, revealing the corruption in the Church and state.
Joan of Arc followed God's call to liberate France but was opposed by both political and religious authorities. She was burned at the stake, yet her cause triumphed, and she was later canonized.
Simeon's prophecy is not just about Jesus; it speaks to the life of every believer. Following Christ means being a sign of contradiction in the world.
The words to Mary, "A sword will pierce your own soul too," remind us that discipleship involves suffering.
Mary’s suffering was not just in witnessing her Son’s Passion and death but in living a life of complete surrender to God’s will. From the moment she accepted the angel’s message, she bore the burdens of uncertainty, exile, and the pain of seeing her Son misunderstood and rejected. Yet, she remained steadfast, demonstrating that discipleship demands perseverance in suffering.
Even in contemporary times, we see this reality. Parents who sacrifice their own comfort to raise children in faith, missionaries who endure hardships to bring the Gospel to remote places, and those who stand up for truth and justice despite persecution—they all walk in the footsteps of Mary, sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
Jesus himself said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Mary’s suffering, reflected in every disciple’s journey, teaches us that pain and trials, when united with Christ, are not in vain but become pathways to redemption and deeper union with God. True discipleship, therefore, is a calling not to comfort but to a love that is willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel.
Satish