BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

Woman, behold, your son.

In today’s Gospel (John 19:25-34), Mary is going through the most painful moment of her life, as she watches her son’s slow and torturous death on the cross. But in this scene of unbearable suffering, there are the seeds of a new beginning for Mary, whom we celebrate today as Mother of the Church.

As he nears death, Jesus gives John the responsibility of taking care of Mary, and tradition has it that she lived with him until her assumption into heaven. But notice that Jesus doesn’t just say, “John, take care of my mom.” Nor does he say to Mary, “John will be like a son to you.” Jesus is calling them to a deeper connection to each other: “Woman, behold, your son. . . . Behold, your mother” (John 19:26, 27). This connection will take Mary’s life in a new direction that will affect the whole Church.

Although her arrangement with John helped Mary, we can assume that Mary’s presence was, in turn, an even deeper blessing for John and all the disciples. The next time Mary is mentioned in the Bible, she is praying with the disciples after Jesus’ ascension into heaven (Acts 1:14). Perhaps the apostles hadn’t known Mary well up to this point, and now they are learning more about her. Because of her sinless nature, she would have been a role model; surely she shared her wisdom and advice with them.

What parent doesn’t love to talk about his or her children? Maybe this was the first time the apostles had heard about Jesus’ birth and his early years, stories that eventually made their way into the Bible. But most important was the motherly love that Mary showed the apostles—the way she encouraged them in their mission and comforted them in the face of difficulties.

Mary was the perfect mother, first to Jesus, then to John, and now to us. She is not some distant saint to be admired from afar. She is family. Her love for the Church—and for you—is intimate, pure, and stronger than any earthly love. What a comfort it is to know that she is guiding the Church, always leading us closer to Jesus!

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, your children!”

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Psalm 87:1-3, 5-7
John 19:25-34

WORD AMONG US