FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY - Gospel (Luke 2:41-51) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?.” (Lk 2:49)

FIRST READING - Isaiah 61:9-11

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

Their descendants will be known among the nations

    and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

    my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

    and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness

    and praise spring up before all nations.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Luke 2:41-51

From the Gospel according to Luke

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[a] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY - Gospel (Luke 2:41-51)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commemorated after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. God has made it known to mankind that: The Immaculate Heart of Mary is also part of God's plan of salvation. It was the Immaculate Heart of Mary that carried into her womb the Son of God who came down to earth to become a human being. Thanks to Mary's cooperation, God's plan of salvation was accomplished.

Mother Mary is a special woman, placed by God and given the grace to carry the Savior. But besides that, she also had to endure humiliation and pain in her heart, when her beloved Son, the Savior, was killed by humans and hung on the cross. Mother was in great pain, but because her pure heart of love was completely dedicated to God, she humbly obeyed God in all places, at all times and in all circumstances.

From the time she conceived the Savior until he died on the cross, she only knew how to listen and meditate on the teachings of God in her heart. And in her daily life, when she encountered difficulties and challenges, she was also worried, afraid and in pain in her heart. But because of her fear of God, she was faithful and overcame all difficulties and challenges. She is the Immaculate Conception and the Perpetual Virginity. She is the most exemplary woman for everyone to follow in terms of obedience, listening to and practicing the words of God. The life of the Savior when He came to earth as a human being is a mystery. No one can fully understand the ways of God. Even when Mother Mary was appointed to be the Mother of God, she had to ponder the words of God in her heart. Through the image of Mother Mary, God also invites people today to:

• Have a pure heart, a holy life, humility, self-abasement and obedience to God in all places and at all times.

• Follow her example by cooperating in God's plan of salvation, through listening and practicing God's Word perfectly.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 June 28th, 2025 -Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven