Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church
(Acts 1:12-14; John 19: 25-34)
Today’s feast or, more accurately, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mother of the Church, has only been established recently. It serves at least two purposes. It justly extends the celebration of
Pentecost by a day. It also draws attention
to the family aspect of the Church.
Conventional wisdom sees today’s gospel as Jesus providing
for his widow mother. However true that
is, the evangelist likely has more in mind by the Beloved Disciple and Mary
taking one another as his and her own. Jesus
is forming his Church. In handing over
his spirit a few verses later, he is enlivening the Church with the Holy
Spirit. The scene can be called “a
second Pentecost.”
The chief characteristic of the Church formed by Jesus’
mother and Beloved Disciple will be familiar love. In the Church we share not only Jesus’ Spirit
but his body and blood as well. This reality
helps us to see one another in the Church in a revered way. We may not be as close to most Church brothers
and sisters as we are to our natural siblings.
Nevertheless, we should offer them extra care and affection.
