Daily Catholic Lectio. Mon, 20 May 2024. She is the mother!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Mon, 20 May 2024

Seventh Week in Ordinary Time – Monday

Gen 3:9-15, 20. John 19:25-27

She is the mother!

Pope Francis in 2018 invited us to celebrate Monday following Pentecost Sunday as the memorial of ‘Mary, Mother of the Church.’ Thus, the Holy Father has inserted the title into the actual calendar of the Church’s liturgical life.

Saint Ambrose, for the first time, calls Mary the Mother of the Church. Though Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Leo XIII had used this title in the 18th century, the title became a liturgical celebration after Pope Saint Paul VI used it in 1964 at the end of the third session of the Second Vatican Council.

Today we have been given two readings: one from the first pages of Genesis and another from the first pages of the Acts of the Apostles. We could choose anyone. Both of these readings present Mary as the Mother of the Church.

‘A tree, a man, and a woman.’

The Lord God encounters the first parents, who were hiding behind the tree after eating the forbidden fruit. Besides the curse, there is also the good news of salvation. The man calls the woman ‘Eve’ (‘Mother of all living beings’).

Jesus hands over her mother to the beloved disciple standing in front of the cross. From that moment on, Mary becomes the mother of all the disciples.

Luke takes an interest in presenting Mary as part of the post-resurrection narrative. Mary was present at the foot of the cross, and must have been there at the tomb when Jesus was buried. After the ascension, Mary joins the disciples in the upper room in prayer.

Mary knew from the beginning that in Jesus were born the new people of Israel, the new assembly, and the new church. Later, in Acts 9, Jesus equates himself with the Church when he meets Saul (Paul) on his way to Damascus. Jesus is the Church.

At the foot of the Cross, in the person of the beloved disciple, Mary accepts every believer and disciple as her son and daughter. From that moment on, she, who was the mother of Jesus (God) becomes the mother of the church.

Mary did so in continuation of her fiat to God: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Let it be done to me according to your word!” (cf. Lk 1:38).

Mary and the disciples are in the upper room in prayer. The upper room was the place of Jesus’ Last Supper. It was here that Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist. The journey of the Church begins here. Mary’s motherhood in the Church begins here as well.

Secondly, Mary is united with the disciples. Being united with the children is the quality of a mother.

Thirdly, Mary’s togetherness with the disciples culminates in prayer. Prayer not only unites us to God but also unites us to each other.

As we commemorate Mary as the Mother of the Church, let us thank God through her. She continues to intercede for the mission of the Church. She is our Mother, as we are all members of the Church. Let us imitate our mother in surrendering to the will of God.

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This year is dedicated as the year of prayer to prepare for the Jubilee 2025. Mary, who was united with the disciples in prayer, stands as a model for prayer. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 102).

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy

# Be M.er.cy.Fool