The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
10 June 2019
Gospel John 19:25-34
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day,
in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
Reflection
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day,
in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
Reflection
By Ma. Rosalina S. Flores
It was just last year, March 3, 2018 when Pope Francis established a universal feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title "Mother of the Church". The Pontiff's decree states that the liturgical celebration be inserted into the Roman calendar and shall be celebrated annually on a fixed date as a Memorial on the day after Pentecost. And for this year, it falls today, June 10.
The devotion to Mary under the title of Mother of the Church has been recognized way back the time of St. Augustine and St. Leo the Great. But, what does it really mean for us?
Mary, with various titles attached to her name has become the most famous and sought-after woman of all time. Catholics cannot help to love her enough for everything she did for Jesus and for the Church. When Mary wholeheartedly said yes to the plan of God the Father in the Annunciation, she has already accepted her important role in the Church. She raised Jesus well, she was there during His public ministry, even at the foot of the cross she stood faithfully. She also did not abandon the apostles when Jesus was put to death. From then, she has started her mission. In our First Reading, Mary was with the apostles altogether praying in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Mary was present when the Church was instituted on the Pentecost. Therefore, it is no doubt that she is the Mother of the Church.
As a mother, she takes care of us, her adopted children. When we pray to her, she listens to our cries, she joins us in triumphs, and she leads us to her son. Mary is fit to be called as Mother of the Church because she is the perfect example of the faithful child of God who obediently followed the Father’s will all the days of her life.
With Mary as Mother of the Church, we now have a complete family to belong to. God is our Father, Jesus is our brother, and Mary is our own loving mother.
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for giving us Mary to be the Mother of Your Church. We implore her help that we may become like her, Your faithful children so that we may inherit an everlasting life. Amen.
It was just last year, March 3, 2018 when Pope Francis established a universal feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title "Mother of the Church". The Pontiff's decree states that the liturgical celebration be inserted into the Roman calendar and shall be celebrated annually on a fixed date as a Memorial on the day after Pentecost. And for this year, it falls today, June 10.
The devotion to Mary under the title of Mother of the Church has been recognized way back the time of St. Augustine and St. Leo the Great. But, what does it really mean for us?
Mary, with various titles attached to her name has become the most famous and sought-after woman of all time. Catholics cannot help to love her enough for everything she did for Jesus and for the Church. When Mary wholeheartedly said yes to the plan of God the Father in the Annunciation, she has already accepted her important role in the Church. She raised Jesus well, she was there during His public ministry, even at the foot of the cross she stood faithfully. She also did not abandon the apostles when Jesus was put to death. From then, she has started her mission. In our First Reading, Mary was with the apostles altogether praying in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Mary was present when the Church was instituted on the Pentecost. Therefore, it is no doubt that she is the Mother of the Church.
As a mother, she takes care of us, her adopted children. When we pray to her, she listens to our cries, she joins us in triumphs, and she leads us to her son. Mary is fit to be called as Mother of the Church because she is the perfect example of the faithful child of God who obediently followed the Father’s will all the days of her life.
With Mary as Mother of the Church, we now have a complete family to belong to. God is our Father, Jesus is our brother, and Mary is our own loving mother.
Lord, we thank You for giving us Mary to be the Mother of Your Church. We implore her help that we may become like her, Your faithful children so that we may inherit an everlasting life. Amen.
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