THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, MEMORIAL, JUNE 1, 2020

MASS READINGS:

A reading from the Book of Genesis 3:9-15, 20

After Adam had eaten of the tree,     the LORD God called to him and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden;     but I was afraid, because I was naked,     so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then,     from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—     she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman,     “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned     from all the animals     and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl,     and dirt shall you eat     all the days of your life. 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.” The man called his wife Eve,     because she became the mother of all the living.

REFLECTION: "The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living."

We can all relate to stories of good mothers. Many attributes given to mothers are kindness, compassion, tenderness and giving. Our first classroom was at the lap of our mothers, and our first church experience was our home.

This is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. It is a new memorial (only 2 years old). It falls on the Monday after Pentecost. Mary is called the new Eve. Our Mother Mary has shown us how to be good mothers by not only telling us what to do but by showing us through example.

She speaks to us about the Church and how we should love the Church. She was there with the apostles when the Holy Spirit descended on them. When the Church was born she was there guiding the apostles. She was at the center of the events in the life of her Son, Jesus Christ. She teaches us of love, patience, mercy, sacrifice and penance.

Most importantly, our Mother Mary intercedes for us and is constantly praying for us. And as any good mother, she rushes to our side when we fall, when we are scared, when we are overwhelmed, and when we are alone. Mary is with us as we journey through faith toward heaven.

As we fold our hands in prayer, allow her to take one hand and let her hold you close to her heart.

God Bless You.