YEAR B: HOMILY FOR MONDAY AFTER PENTECOST MEMORIAL OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH. (1)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR MONDAY AFTER PENTECOST

HOMILY THEME: A NEW MEMORIAL; AN OLD REALITY – MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH.

BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu

HOMILY:

“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” John 19:26-27.

Today, history is being made in the Catholic Church as a new memorial has been added to her liturgical calendar. It is the memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church. On this day, the church simply wants us to pause for a while and REMIND ourselves that we as a church have a mother; a mother that was handed over to us by Jesus Christ at the foot of the cross.

Today’s feast is new, but its reality is as old as the church itself. Mary, the Mother of God is also the Mother of the Church. And I tell you, Mary has been playing her role perfectly as the mother of the church. Indeed, do you ever take time to wonder why out of all the saints and those we know to be in heaven, Mary has the highest number of apparitions on earth?

Mary is truly a Mother; a mother who sacrifices (risks) her own life to give life to her children; a mother who never stops thinking about her children even if it means forgetting herself and her own needs; a mother who invests herself in the training (shaping, moulding) of her children. Think of everything a mother does and meditate for a while the fact that Mary does all that for the church.

Our first reading today taken from the book of Genesis contains a prophecy that was fulfilled in the life of Mary. When God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed…” He wasn’t talking about Eve, but about Mary and the seed of Mary is Jesus Christ.

From the very beginnings of the Church, Mary has always been there. When Jesus appeared to his disciples after rising from the dead, Mary was there. On the day of Pentecost, the day the church was born, Mary was there. Like a very responsible and caring mother, Mary has never abandoned the church. Today’s memorial reminds us of our need to constantly call on Mary for our intercession.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may your Mother intercede for us both now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. Bible Study: Genesis 3:9-15,20 and John 19:25-34).