Saturday 20th June THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Gospel Reading – Luke 2:41-51
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Liam Dowling RIP
Reflection
We see in today’s Gospel, the heart of a Mother, broken, fretting and worrying, what has happened to her child? And one Mother that comes to my mind is Kate McCann, the Mother of Madeleine McCann and there are many more Mothers out there in similar situations. We know that Jesus was found, but what heartache for the Fathers, Mothers and Families who have not found their loved ones?
I believe that’s why we come to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in this heart all solace and love is found.
Our Blessed Mother Mary wants us to come to her and tell her what is happening with us, be it our joys and hopes, our grief and sorrows, our troubles and worries.
Yes, we must tell Mary our Mother, and we must remember that her tender heart is waiting to welcome all of us in any form of need. Yes, we must tell our Mother, because that is also what Jesus wants us to do.
Remember the words Jesus spoke from his Cross, to His beloved disciple John – This is your mother. Jesus is saying the same thing to us – This is YOUR Mother.
Today as we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we focus our thoughts on her tender heart. What is in the heart of Mary? Well, certainly there is her great love for God, and also as we heard from today’s gospel, all her experiences of Jesus.
And if we were to ask Our Mother Mary, what she remembered she, would be encapsulated in these four words – This is your son. Those were the words spoken by Jesus to her when He was hanging on the cross.
And Mary remembered those words. The last mention of Mary in the Bible is in Acts 1:14 where she was with the disciples in prayer.
Yes, Mary remembered by heart those words – This is your son.
And it means everyone, male and female, Catholic and Agnostic, Saint and Sinner, anyone and everyone. More so for us, we are Mary’s beloved sons and daughters. Mary remembered by heart what Jesus said to her – This is your son. And she embraces all of us into her Immaculate Heart as she prays for us. And let us remember this by heart – I will tell my mother. Because the heart of a disciple always has a prayer for the Mother of God. Here I would like to share with you a prayer to Mother Mary, which is called the Memorare. I invite you to pray with me this prayer if you know it.
It goes like this:
Remember most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence I fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in your love and mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.
Fr John