Monday, May 20, 2024

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34)

Pope Francis introduced today’s celebration just six years ago.  Obviously, he wanted to emphasize the association of Mary, the mother of Jesus, with the church Jesus founded.  Both Scripture readings attest to this.

The first reading pictures the eleven apostles of Jesus remaining after Jesus’ Ascension along with his mother. It implies that Mary was present when the Spirit descended upon the disciples to set the Church in motion.  The gospel shows Mary at the foot of the cross with the beloved disciple and other women.  Jesus then hands over his Holy Spirit to his faithful followers – a kind of Pentecost initiating the community of disciples.

The Holy Father insists on the key role of Mary in the Church.  She does not merely give Christ a human nature.  More significantly, Mary’s presence at the death of Jesus and the coming of the Spirit indicates her role in the project he initiated.  She epitomizes the caring outreach of the Church, the role of the Church as intercessor for sinners, and a central place of women in its makeup.

Monday, May 29, 2023

Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church

(Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34)

Mary fully becomes “Mother of the Church” at the foot of the cross where she is met in today’s gospel.  Jesus gives to her his beloved disciples to form his “family,” a new community whose ties go beyond blood to selfless love.  Jesus prepared Mary for this moment by gradually distancing himself from her since that day in the Temple when at twelve years old, he told her and Joseph that he must be about the work of his Father.

Mary is living out the “Fiat” she made at the Annunciation – that she would accept completely the will of God.  Her sacrifice is comparable to that of her son hanging on the cross.  She suffers as any mother or father in seeing a son precede them in death.  But she suffers even more since she is aware of Jesus’ divine origin and his utter innocence.  Just as Jesus endured the abandonment by his Father on the cross, Mary must now endure his abandonment.  Only selfless love keeps both faithful.

As Mother of the Church, Mary expresses her selfless love on behalf of all of us.  Her love does not substitute for ours but models such love for us.  Knowing that she was able to give herself completely to God’s will, we can do likewise.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Genesis 3:9-15.20; John 19:25-34)

Pentecost has been called the “birthday of the Church.”  Perhaps it would be better to say that the Church was founded on that day with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  In any case, Pope Francis has established today, the Monday after the great feast of the Spirit, as the Memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church.  She stands for the Church as its original member.

Of course, Mary is present at the Pentecost event in the Acts of the Apostles.  But today’s gospel also shows the formation of the Church with Mary there.  Jesus begins his family of disciples by presenting Mary to the beloved disciple.  Then as he dies, he hands over his spirit, especially it may be said, to them.  It is an climatic moment.  By giving himself to death, Jesus has conquered the satanic serpent.  This is the evil power who instigated the downfall of humanity by deceiving Eve in the garden.  Now the human race begins again with the Church imbued with grace so that it will not fail.

The corona virus pandemic has taken a great toll on the Church.  Collections, of course, are down and in some cases this has meant that people are being laid off work.  Probably some regular church-goers will not return, either because of fear of crowds or just because they have lost the routine.  And the future is very uncertain.  There is more reason now than ever to seek our Blessed Mother’s intercession.  We ask her to assist us with prayers for the Church and indeed the world during this pandemic crisis.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34)

Today’s gospel is usually understood as an indication of Jesus’ love for his mother.  He does not leave her helpless but entrusts her care to his beloved disciple.  Insightful commentators, however, find an even more significant meaning in the passage.  They compare it to Jesus’ inclusion of his mother in his company of disciples in Luke’s gospel.  When Mary comes to see him, Jesus remarks that his mother and his brothers are “’…those who hear the word of God and do it’” (Luke 8:21).

Mary stands with the beloved disciple at Jesus’ cross.  The two comprise Jesus’ most faithful support group.  They bear with the ignominy of association with a condemned man.  They also endure the pain of seeing their loved one suffer and die.  When Jesus expires, the text reads, “…he handed over his spirit.”  This handing over may be validly interpreted as sending the Holy Spirit to this new community of love that he has just formed.  In other words, by this action Jesus is establishing his church.

We should not underestimate the role of Mary in the Church.  By virtue of her closeness to Jesus she is its greatest intercessor.  By virtue of her presence at significant events in his life, she is one of its leading witnesses.  And by virtue of her reflection and action on the word of God, she is its model disciple.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34)

Today for the first time throughout the world the Church celebrates Mary as Mother of the Church.  Pope Francis decreed the innovation in order to tie Christian life more closely to the cross and to Mary.  Today’s gospel eloquently illustrates this linkage.

The passage relates John’s version of Jesus’ death and of the formation of the first Christian community.  From the cross Jesus introduces his mother to his beloved disciple and his disciple to his mother.  He does not mean simply that his beloved disciple care for his mother.  Rather, he wants them to unite with his other disciples as a community of believers.  As the Church requires the Holy Spirit, the gospel specifies that Jesus “hand(s) over his spirit,” ostensibly to them.  Mother and son form one family, the children of God, whose task is to proclaim the Father’s love to the world.

We are called into that relationship.  With Mary teaching us, we learn how to reflect over the events of our lives as encounters with God.  With brother and sister Christians we give witness to Christ’s resurrection by our joy in humble service.