The Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church | Monday 6 June 2022

Today is Monday the 6th June, the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.
Nóirín Ní Riain sings the Magnificat, the song of Mary: “My soul glorifies the Lord. My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her lowliness. Henceforth, all ages will call me blessed.” As I listen, can I sense the Lord looking on me in my lowliness, and can I rejoice in him and in all that he does for me?
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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 19:25-34
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

Today’s feast day is Mary, Mother of the Church, an ancient devotion recently promoted by Pope Francis for the Monday following Pentecost. Following a day of joyous celebration and freedom, how does this scripture passage speak to you?
Mary says very few words throughout the gospel. There is no recorded response to her son’s command. Yet it feels that her dedication, her continuing ‘yes’, is undeniable. How do you imagine the unspoken conversation between them?
Later, in the passage we witness the challenging, distressing part of being a mother. Imagine seeing your child, no matter their age, undergo such torment? How does this speak about the role of Mary as Mother of the Church?

As you listen to the reading again, consider your own response. How does this speak to your experience of the Church as a family?
‘Here is your mother’. Spend time with this image of Mary. Reassured by Jesus’ trust in her, share your own worries and thoughts in this time of prayer.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.