Jesus' home for the first nine months of His life was within the womb of His mother Mary. The Church's home, with Jesus being Head of the Church (Col 1:18), was likewise "within" Mary (Ps 87:7). Mary was with the apostles and disciples in the upper room (Acts 1:13-14) as they waited for the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49). Like the nine months of a pregnancy, the nine days of the Pentecost Novena resembled the growth of a baby in its mother's womb. Mary mothered the nascent Church in that upper room. She took the place of Jesus, Who "wanted to gather [the children of Jerusalem] together as a mother bird collects her young under her wings" (Lk 13:34).
From the Cross, Jesus gave Mary to the Church as its mother (Jn 19:25-27). Mary forgave the apostles for abandoning her Son during His Crucifixion and discipled them in the shelter of the upper room. In a sense, the upper room was the womb of the Church, where it could grow and develop under Mary's maternal protection. Thus we call Mary by the title, "Mother of the Church."
Our home as Church "is within" Mary (Ps 87:7). Mary reversed what Eve lost in the garden of Eden by giving us to eat of the Fruit of the tree of the cross, the Body and Blood of her Son Jesus. Eat the Fruit that Mother Mary offers. Make your home in the Church mothered by Mary.
| PRAYER: | Father, through Eve's disobedience, we lost our home in your garden paradise. You "made a better plan" (Heb 11:40) by giving Mary to us as "Mother of the Church" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 975). May we receive her as our mother and so enter into the new paradise You offer through Your Church. |
| PROMISE: | "He Who has established her is the Most High Lord." –Ps 87:5 |
| PRAISE: | "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name" (Lk 1:49). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College