MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise,
for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God.

GENESIS 3:9-15,20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

It is right and fitting that the Church celebrates Mary as Mother of the Church today after the feast of Pentecost. She conceived You when the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her, and she conceived once again, this time spiritually when the sword that ran through Your side simultaneously pierced her heart. She became the Mother of the infant Church by her presence in the upper room when the Holy Spirit descended on her and the Apostles. 

The disobedience of Eve cost us paradise the perfect and uninterrupted obedience of the New Eve restored paradise to us once again. Our first parents became aware of their nakedness and vulnerability when they ate the forbidden fruit and separated themselves from God. Mary, our Mother who is sinless, is robed with the all-powerful and radiant light of her Son who is the Sun of Justice.

All the children of Eve are cursed but those who are made children of God by baptism become offspring of the New Eve. As Your brothers and sisters, we are made children of the Father, we are given Mary as our Mother, and we are heirs to the Kingdom of God. This is why we ought never to allow the world to get us down our lives here may be weighed down with sorrow and distress but if we bear our troubles patiently and humbly, our sorrow will be turned into everlasting joy.

We are a people of hope for she who is the immaculate Mother of all the living has crushed the head of the deadly Enemy under her heel.

PSALM 87 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You have established the City of God high on Mt. Zion. It is the place where the Triune God dwells in fullness, majesty, and power. It is to her that the people of God stream night and day and they are fed on the Word of God in spirit and in truth.

The doors of many of the churches around the world are shut to the faithful but You have not withheld sustenance from the people of God. Who will say 'nay' to You - You have the power to do all things and with every spiritual communion worthily made, You flood our souls with innumerable graces and blessings. Who will separate us from the love of God in You, Beloved? No one and nothing can take away those who are grafted to You.

You look on Your Church tenderly, You have given her Your Mother to be her Mother too and You love Your Church as extravagantly as she does. She pleads with You ceaselessly to have mercy on her sinful children and You will always hear and answer the prayers and pleas she makes on our behalf.

We long for the day of Your return in glory, Beloved. Reduce the days of our life on earth and hasten Your return so we will never be separated from You. Maranatha! Lord Jesus, Maranatha! Hurry, come soon. We yearn to see You in whom we have placed all our faith, hope, and trust.

JOHN 19:25-34 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

From the moment You entrusted Your Mother to the beloved disciple, she has been given pride of place in the home. She is a rare gift for she is the best of all Mothers. If we gathered the love of all mothers who were ever born until the end of time, their collective love would be less than a drop when weighed against Mary's love for us.

She stood with steadfast love at the foot of Your Cross as she had always done and her steadfast love for the Church You entrusted to her strengthens and sustains all the children who are born in her. 

All who are baptized into the Church hear the same words that You spoke to the disciple, 'This is your mother.' And we take her with us and she will remain steadfast in her love for us until our pilgrim journey here is at an end and our immortal soul returns to our Father in heaven. 

She too has the same thirst for souls that You have and so she understands Your thirst and will do all in her power to aid her poor, sinful children through her most powerful intercession with You. She drank just as deeply spiritually, along with You from Your cup of suffering and so God has raised her up above all the angels and saints, and You honor her by giving her a place at Your right hand. 

For all the years that she lived after Your ascension into heaven, she assisted the nascent Church with her love, wisdom, her presence, and her prayers. And as Mother of the Church, she will continue to do so until You return in glory.

Thank You, Lord, for such a glorious and loving Mother.