Celebrating Mary of Fatima

Yesterday we remembered our mothers, so it is fitting today that we celebrate the mother of Jesus and our mother, Mary of Fatima. At the Spanish mass yesterday, I asked the mothers with older children how they felt when their sons and daughters left the family for the first time. Several said that they felt liberated, others said that there was sadness but at the same time they were happy that they had had brought up their children to be able to face the world on their own terms. Mary had the same experience as after years of caring for Jesus and being supported by him, the day arrived when he said goodbye and went off to be baptized by John and begin his own mission. She suffered at his crucifixion but then rejoiced in his resurrection. No doubt, like the disciples, she was sad when he returned to the glory of his Father. Yet Luke surprises us when he says that after the Ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Were they joyful because they realized that Jesus had such confidence in them that he now entrusted his mission to them? And even though he could not be with them physically, he promised that he would be with them always through his Spirit. Mary too must have been happy when, after Pentecost, she saw how the Apostles preached the Good News of Jesus with such enthusiasm forming communities united in his name. May we add to her joy as we too, strengthened by the Spirit, bring the love of Jesus to others.