Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 10th week in ordinary time, June 9, 2025, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Delivered by Meisye Laurencia from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Genesis 3: 9-15.20; Rs psalm 87: 1-2.3.5.6-7; John 19: 25-34 A MOTHER’S GIFT The title for our meditation today is:A Mother's Gift. In principle we believe in one God, but in the realization ofHis will and the revealation of Himself, He presents a type of life intogetherness with other parties. One expression of this essential divine will isthe life in pairs between a man and a woman. In the divine power that expresseslife in pairs, we then recognize the existence of a mother or mom as a gift forour lives. A mother stands and exists on two solid foundations, namely as awoman and a person who binds herself in marriage. Human nature as a woman andwho marries her chosen man is the natural aspect that underlies a noble anddignified profile as a mother. God created that natural dimension,and He judged it as a good creation, because it follows His own image andlikeness, as the book of Genesis says. But love doesn't stop there. God revealshis glory more perfectly when that created woman becomes a mother, with thepurpose that the mother takes participation in witnessing the glory of God inthe world. Motherhood that displays the power and love of God is as meaningfulas it is expressed in fatherhood. In other words, a mother is fundamentally theface and action of God in the world for anyone who takes part in the life andwork of the mother. We are happy in this celebration ofOur Lady as the Mother of the Church, which is a celebration to honor andglorify the role of motherhood for the whole Church. In principle the Church iscalled the mother with the most obvious reason, because the Virgin Mary isentrusted by her own Son, Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church, as themother of the Church. Jesus stated that directly and personally when He wascrucified and about to die. He said to a disciple whom he loved: "This isyour mother!" The Church as a mother has the mostimportant responsibility to protect and direct each of her members to the pathof salvation. Mary certainly works with Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church,to make the Church and all its members live in strong faith, love and hope. Asa mother, Mary animates the entire Church along the way. Even though the threatof Satan and its companions never ceases to harm and destroy the Church, the Motherof the Church has the power to defend and fight for sake of the Church. Thisbattle never stops as long as the world is still in its journey towards itsend, as the first reading of today proclaims. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O God Almighty, may the Virgin Mary always be with us in all ourdifficulties, especially in times of trouble and death threathened by deadlyenemies. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...