THE WORD AND THE FEAST
Monday after the Pentecost - June 10, 2019
Genesis 3: 9-15, 20; John 19: 25-34
We celebrate a new memorial today in the Church, just a year old... the very second time that we celebrate it as a Church: the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church! The positioning of the feast is very crucial: the day after the Pentecost, to prolong the celebration of the Pentecost and to remain with the extraordinary event that took place, resulting in the genesis of the Church!
Mary is indisputably the Mother of the Church for the following three reasons:
1. Mary bore Jesus, the head of the Church: As the mother of the head of the Church, she naturally becomes the mother of the body of Christ - the Church. As she gave birth to Jesus and nourished him, so does she nourish each of us in our faith in Christ her son. As she brought up Jesus in wisdom and grace, so does she watch us mature in our faith and hope. This role was predestined for her by the Almighty from time immemorial - that is what the first reading establishes today. As she cared for Jesus and protected him from all worldly perils (be it fleeing to Egypt or going in search of Jesus at Jerusalem), so does she care for us and protect us. THE PATRONESS AND PROTECTORESS OF THE CHURCH.
2. Jesus nominated her as the mother of his followers: While Jesus was about to culminate his divine moment of sacrifice to the Father, on the Cross, he deliberately nominated Mary as the mother of his followers! He looked at John, the beloved disciple who represented every beloved of Christ who would form his Church, and said, Behold your Mother! That was a parting gift, a final gesture of love and care towards his loved ones on earth. As Mary went home with John that day, so does she come home with everyone who accepts this gift from Jesus, she is there to guide us and accompany us. THE GUIDE AND MODEL OF THE CHURCH.
3. Mary was there holding the Apostles together, at the descent of the Spirit: Mary was one of the first members of the Church, right at its origin. Just yesterday we celebrated the birthday of the Church - I wonder how some groups of so-called Chrsitians conveniently forget one important person who was at the centre of it all. How can there be the Church without Mary! She was united with the apostles, in fact she united them in prayer until the Spirit came! The Holy Spirit was no stranger to Mary. Her faith journey began with her rendezvous with the Spirit. Mary unites us, as one of us and as a person filled with the Spirit! A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND A SPIRIT-FILLED PERSON.
Note that the three reasons that we just saw, are all from the Word of God, so faithfully cherished by the Tradition of the Holy Catholic Church. The Feast that was instituted last year, is not merely an invention of fantasy - but a profound reflection on the Word and its impact on our faith. Let us cherish out Blessed Mother, the Mother of God, Our Mother and the Mother of the Church!