SERMON/MEDITATION FOR MONDAY AFTER PENTECOST MEMORIAL OF MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH MAY 20 2024

SERMON/MEDITATION FOR MONDAY AFTER PENTECOST – MEMORIAL OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH (MAY 20, 2024)

Gen.3:9-15,20; Ps. 87; John 19:25-34

Mary is our Mother too

Today we celebrate the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. This celebration focuses on the relationship between Mary and the Church of Christ. In the first reading of today, we saw the fall of our first parents. They fell because they disobeyed God. When Adam was asked why he fell, he blamed it on Eve who gave him the forbidden fruit to eat. By this, the co-operation of woman was clearly highlighted in the fall of humanity. It became necessary that the co-operation of a woman be also highlighted in the rise of humanity.

This was what Jesus ensured in the gospel reading. While already at the point of death, he would not die until he had completed his work for man. Since he was in the business of emptying himself for humanity, leaving man with his mother too was something very important. So, he established a Mother-Son relationship between His Mother and the Church (represented by John).

Whenever power is delegated, the delegator expects that the subjects will honour the delegate. To dishonor the delegate is to dishonor the delegator. So, if Jesus has given his mother to us as our mother too, it means that he wants us to hide ourselves under her maternal care. When we reject the motherhood of Mary, we reject Divine Provision. Mary is a powerful intercessor for the Church.

The gospel reading noted that from that moment, John took the Blessed Virgin Mary to his home (as his mother). This is something we need to do too. To keep Mary with us always means to honour her and implore her intercession always. The rosary becomes very helpful in this regard. We are currently in the season of the May devotion where we specially honour the Blessed Virgin Mary and seek her intercession. However, we do not just need Mary in the months of May and October but indeed at all times.