Daily Reflection for Monday, June 06, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060622.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Responsorial: Psalm 87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7
Gospel: John 19:25-34
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19: 26-27
When I decided to become Catholic, I was enthusiastic in sharing this news with my Evangelical friends. I was dismayed to discover that they did not share my enthusiasm. Their number one objection was Mary:
How can you be a Catholic? They worship Mary! So, are you going to worship Mary?
I didn’t have an answer to that question. All I knew for sure was that the Holy Spirit was urging me to become Catholic. I knew that he would not lead me into anything that was not of Christ.
As I learned the traditions of the Church, I learned who Mary was: the human vessel from which the son of God appropriated every single bit of his human DNA. I learned that only a pure human person could become the Mother of God. And from today’s scripture I learned that while he was on the cross, Jesus gave his mother to the disciple that he loved. I am his disciple, and he loves me. Mary is my mother. She is the mother of every believer. We are to take her into our hearts and cherish her.
In one of today’s first readings, God tells Satan “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” The woman mentioned in this prophecy is Mary and her offspring, Jesus. As Eve was the mother of all the living, Mary is the mother of the first born of the dead and of all those who believe in him. She is the mother of all those who trust in the promise of eternal life.
To all my non-Catholic Christian friends: we do not worship Mary, but we do hold her in the highest esteem. She has already attained heaven and eternal life. She intercedes for those of us who call on her for help. For me, she is my faithful and ever-present prayer partner. She is a treasure and to discount her is to deprive yourself of untold graces that are hers and hers alone to distribute as she sees fit.
“Hail Mary full of Grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”
Melissa Kittrell