Today we celebrate both Memorial Day and the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Following on the Feast of Pentecost yesterday we continue to reflect today on the mystery of the church. In today’s Gospel Mary is interpreted symbolically as the mother of the church and the mother of all Christians personified by the beloved disciples. Jesus entrusts his mother to the care of this beloved disciple.
“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.”
Jesus thus declares that Mary is now the mother of this beloved disciple and therefore the mother of the church.
Both Mary and the beloved disciple provide a clear model of what it means to be church and what the church is called to be. Mary puts God’s will before all, even her own will as we hear in her response to the angel Gabriel: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). The beloved disciple calls us to be a church of love, service, and compassion as Jesus commands:
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).
As a church of service and love we remember and pray on this Memorial Day for all of those who have sacrificed their lives in service to our country. We remember and pray for them and for their families.
“Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known.” (Eucharistic Prayer IV)
Image: “The Crucifixion of Jesus” by Travis S. is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.