10 June 2019 - behold your mother

Today's Readings

(Audio)

All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,
together with some women,
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Together with Mary and the apostles we are called to devote ourselves to prayer. We are called to prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of the bread (see Acts 2:42). These are the people and characteristic activities that mark the Church. If we look at them we saw the four marks of the Church in miniature. We see oneness, sanctity, apostolicity, and universality. This picture could not be complete without Mary.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
He will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.

Her unique importance was clearly seen in the early Church:

As Eve was seduced by the word of an angel and so fled from God after disobeying his word, Mary in her turn was given the good news by the word of an angel, and bore God in obedience to his word.

- Saint Irenaeus

It is this sanctity in which we are meant the participate. It is united with her that we ourselves can be united. It is around her that we find the apostles and therefore the fullness of the catholic truth of Jesus. She is now the Mother of all the living, those who keep the testimony of Jesus (see Revelation 12:17), whereas Eve, though meant to be, became the mother of the dead through her disobedience. We have a mother whose obedience is life-giving. This is why Jesus is born from the fruit of her womb. But the womb of her spirit continues to be fruitful in interceding for her other children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus by adoption.

Let us stand with the beloved disciples at the cross and receive Mary again and afresh as a new gift for all of us.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."

Mary is herself the new Zion because within her God's true children are born.

And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD."

Mary, mother of the Church, pray for us!