HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
THEME: Mary is Our Mother, she is the Mother of the Church.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR MONDAY JUNE 6 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Genesis 3:9-15,20
Psalm 86.
John 19:25-34
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we enter once again into the season of Ordinary Time. And in a special way today, we also commemorate the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This is a memorial inserted Four years ago, by Pope Francis, to be celebrated on the Monday after the feast of Pentecost. The feast of Pentecost celebrates the birth of the church and to-day’s feast celebrates Mary as Mother of the Church.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In the first reading for this feast, we find Mary exercising this motherly role among the disciples. She is praying with them, as they wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom the risen Lord promised to send. She doesn’t stand above them, but she is among them, as any mother would be among her children.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In today’s gospel reading, Mary was present at the foot of the cross as Jesus gave us his spirit, in the sense of his bodily spirit, but also the Holy Spirit. In our gospel reading, the only male disciple at the foot of the cross is the disciple whom Jesus loved, often referred to as the beloved disciple. He is never given a name in this gospel of John, perhaps to encourage us all to place our own names upon him.
*CONCLUSION*
Today’s memorial celebrates the good news that the mother of Jesus is also our mother, which means Jesus is our brother. For most of us, our earthly mother remains a significant presence throughout our lives. Mary is a hugely significant presence in our faith life. She is one of Jesus’ great gifts to us, to accompany us on our life journey as a helpful and supportive presence. She prays for us not just at the hour of our death but here and now, in the concrete circumstances of our daily lives. Today is a good day to remind ourselves that she is there as mother for us all throughout our lives, and that her primary role is to lead us to her Son, who is our way, our truth and our life.
Happy Feast of The Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of the Church, Mary our mother pray for Us.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA