HOMILY FOR MONDAY AFTER PENTECOST (1)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY AFTER PENTECOST (Mary, Mother of the Church)

THEME: Mater Ecclesiae

BY: Fr. Gerald M. Musa

HOMILY FOR MONDAY JUNE 6 2022

The title ‘Mother of the Nation’ is usually conferred on a female who led her country to independence or one who played a significant role in a nation. Ethnic groups or families confer the title of Matriarch to the female head or the most elderly or powerful woman in the ethnic group or family. Some churches respectfully call the wife of the pastor Mummy. The title ‘Mother of the Church’ (Mater Ecclesiae) was given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Paul VI. Pope Francis promulgated the feast of Mary Mother of the Church to be celebrated on Monday after Pentecost. The Catechism of the Church states that “Mary’s role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows from it” (CCC #964). Jesus entrusted His beloved disciple John to Mary and said, “Woman, behold thy Son.” He entrusted Mary to John saying, “Son, behold thy mother.” John the beloved disciple represented humanity and the faithful and so Mary became the mother of John, the Apostles, and the Church. She was the mother of the Saviour, Jesus. She also participated actively in praying for the birth of the Church on Pentecost together with the Apostles in the Upper Room (CCC #965). In all, she humbly cooperated with God’s plan to be the mother of the saviour and mother of his body, the Church. Should her spiritual children, the faithful, not imitate her virtues of humility and total self-giving to God’s plans?

Monday after Pentecost; Mary, Mother of the Church. Genesis 3:9-15, 20; John 19:25-34