Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
When reading this Gospel, I remember what my mother said years ago. She understood Mary’s reluctance to comprehend how Jesus could speak those words to her. Indeed, if my child was missing for three days, I wouldn’t be able to be easily consoled with an answer like that! How wise for Mary to have kept these things in her immaculate heart!
This Gospel speaks to us today as we think of homilies given to us at Mass. Our priests and deacons spend hours praying, reflecting, and preparing to deliver God’s message to our parish families. And only with the Spirit working through them can their words pierce our hearts as if they were spoken personally to us. When Jesus spoke in the temple, we can understand how the teachers were astounded – the new message assuring them of God’s love, mercy, salvation, and command to go forth in love.
Today, we celebrate the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we ponder the life of our Blessed Mother, we envision this woman whose interior life was one of purity, joy, worries, and sorrow as she raised her divine son. We may think of her as humble and quiet, yet she was a strong, steadfast woman who accepted the will of the Father and responded to him with a limitless “yes.” A mother who wept at the foot of the cross as her beloved son died on the cross. Perhaps she weeps today as she sees a world of turmoil, sin, wars, and fighting.
With courage and hope, let us heed the psalm to give thanks and sing praise of the promise of God’s salvation.
Prayer
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
