Mary Mother of the Church
James 3:13-18 / Mark 9:14-29
True wisdom is from above: It is humble and filled with good sense.
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How do we respond when people treat us unreasonably? Are we like the small boy or the father? “It is better to be patient than powerful. It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities.” Proverbs 16:32
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If a book is not judged by its cover, then the corresponding axiom is that a tree is judged by its fruit. As Jesus had taught us, a bad tree cannot bear good fruit, nor a good tree bears bad fruit. Similarly, when it comes to people, we will know what kind of persons they are by their words and actions. In other words, we just have to look at the fruits of their lives.
The 1st reading tells us what wise and learned men are like - they lead good lives with humility and they are wise in their actions.
It also tells us what the opposite is like - they will make claims for themselves and cover up the truth with lies, they have the bitterness of jealousy. And this is what it says of this kind of people - they are earthly, animal, and even devilish. So by the fruit, we will know what kind of tree it is.
In the gospel, we heard of a case of a man bringing his possessed son to the disciples but they were unable to cast out the evil spirit. But when Jesus came into the scene, He cast out the evil spirit from the boy at the request of the father. The disciples' question, which may also be our question is this: Why were we unable to cast it out?
Jesus pointed out two factors - faith and prayer. It means that if we have faith we would also turn to God in prayer and everything would be possible.
When we have faith and when it is reinforced with prayer, we will bear the fruits that God wants us to bear.
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Mary, Mother of the Church
Opening Prayer God, Father of mercy whose only-begotten Son, nailed to the cross, proclaimed as our Mother his own Mother, Mary Most Holy grant us, through her loving cooperation, that your Church, becoming more fruitful each day, may she rejoice in the holiness of her children and draw to her bosom all the families of peoples. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit and is God for ever and ever.
First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15.20: The mother of all living Gospel: John 19:25=34
Intercessions
With the help of Mary, our Mother, let us pray united to our Father in heaven that he will look kindly upon us, his servants, and do great things in us. Let us say in response R/ Lord, listen to your people. * That the Lord may show his love and mercy to all who strive to serve him faithfully and forgive those who have failed, both to him and to the brethren, let us pray to the Lord.
* That the Lord may show his power and defend the humble people, so often humiliated and trampled underfoot, and dispose us all to respect and love him, let us pray to the Lord.
* That the Lord may give us the will and the strength to carry out his Word in our lives, day by day, with decision and joy, let us pray to the Lord. * That the Lord may make us aware of the poverty of our heart, filling it with his goodness, his welcome to people and his care and concern for the poorest and neediest, let us pray to the Lord.
* That the Lord may help us to see to it that the hungry receive nourishment and that he may inwardly dispose all people and the powerful of this world to share justly with each one the goods of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
* May the Lord welcome all our departed loved ones into the house of eternal joy, we pray to the Lord. Lord, our God:
In memory of Mary, Mother of the Church, we pray to you: fill us with your good things, so that, with Mary, we may bless your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the Gifts
Receive, Lord, our offerings and turn them into a sacrament of salvation, by whose efficacy and by your loving intervention and by the loving intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, fill us with holy fervor and make us worthy of being more intimately associated with her more closely associated with her in the work of redemption. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Having received this pledge of redemption and of life we beseech you, O Lord, that your Church, through the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin, instruct all nations, proclaiming the Gospel to them. and fill the whole world with the effusion of your Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
We, as Church, are called to be what Mary was and did on earth: to believe in God's ways and inspiration, even without knowing what the future holds, and to be open to the needs of others, serving everyone wholeheartedly. May Almighty God give you this strength and bless you abundantly: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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Bl. V. Mary, Mother of the Church John 19: 25-34 This is your Mother! On 3 March 2018, Pope Francis instituted the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to be celebrated the day after Pentecost. This feastday testifies to Mary's pivotal role in our faith. She was present with the disciples, praying with the first Christian community, eagerly awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit. And Mary, our dear Mother, continues to intercede for us in prayer. This celebration will help us remember the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is both “Mother of the Redeemer” and “Mother of the Redeemed." The Gospel presents the image of the Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross, to whom Jesus entrusted the task of being the mother of his disciples - “Mother of all those who believe in him.” If we are willing to stand by the Cross together with our Blessed Mother, then we will also have the privilege of listening to the words of Jesus, “Behold, your Mother.” When we find ourselves in difficult or painful moments of life, remember that we are not left alone. We have a Mother who watches over us with maternal care and protection. She draws us closer to her Son each day and helps us navigate through the challenges we face. Explaining this Gospel passage, Pope Francis said, "In these times in the world, when there is a deep sense of being an orphaned world, today's Gospel has great importance, as Jesus promises us: ‘I am not leaving you as orphans, I’m giving you a mother.’ And this is also a (source of) pride for us: we have a mother who protects us, accompanies us, and helps us in difficult or terrible times."
