Today's readings can be found: [HERE]
Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title, "Mother of the Church." In our gospel passage, we're presented with the scene of the Mother of Jesus standing by his cross. Looking upon her and the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." And then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother."
This was the same voice that gave birth to the heavens and the earth and all that fills them. At his word, the sun, stars, and moon shone for the first time, as creation came into existence and obeyed him at his word.
When he said, "Let there be light," it was so. Here, when that voice said, "Woman, behold, your son," and to the disciple, "Behold, your mother," likewise, it was so.
Origen, the great post-apostolic theologian, commented on this passage, saying that when Jesus told Mary to behold her son, he didn't say, "Behold, another son," or "Behold, this one is also your son." He said very specifically, "Behold, you son."
Mary has only one son. His name is Jesus Christ. Many years before, at the word of the angel, Mary conceived the Son of God. At the word of God, Mary does so once again. Mary is to see in the beloved disciple, Jesus Christ, her son. Incidentally, the Father does the same.
At every Mass, when our heavenly Father looks upon each of us, he does not see a sinner. He sees his son, Jesus Christ, in each of us united to him through Baptism. This is by the power of the Holy Spirit, who makes us one body with Christ.
Friends united to one another in baptism, Mary is our mother, truly. May you experience her motherly care and intercession, this day and always.
William Adolphe Bouguereau Regina Angelorum
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