SATURDAY OF THE NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME MEMORIAL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - Lk 2:41-51 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"The Blessed Mary kept all these things in her heart." (Lk 2:51)

READING OF THE DAY

Reading from the Letter of St. Pau to Timothy

2 Tm 4:1-8

Beloved:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,

who will judge the living and the dead,

and by his appearing and his kingly power:

proclaim the word;

be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;

convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine

but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,

will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth

and will be diverted to myths.

But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances;

put up with hardship;

perform the work of an evangelist;

fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well;

I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke

Lk 2:41-51

Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,

and when he was twelve years old,

they went up according to festival custom.

After they had completed its days, as they were returning,

the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,

but his parents did not know it.

Thinking that he was in the caravan,

they journeyed for a day

and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

but not finding him,

they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple,

sitting in the midst of the teachers,

listening to them and asking them questions,

and all who heard him were astounded

at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him,

they were astonished,

and his mother said to him,

"Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."

And he said to them,

"Why were you looking for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

But they did not understand what he said to them.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth,

and was obedient to them;

and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

SATURDAY OF THE NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME MEMORIAL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - Lk 2:41-51

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated after the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, the good shepherd. God lets people know that: The Heart of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary is also placed in God the Father's plan of salvation. It was the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Mary that conceived in her womb the Second Person of God who came to earth to become a human being. Thanks to the cooperation of the Blessed Mother Mary, God's plan of salvation is carried out.

The Blessed Mother Mary is a special woman, placed by God and given the grace to bear the Savior. But besides that, she also had to endure humiliation and pain in her heart, while her beloved Son, the Savior, was killed by humans and hanged on the cross. She was in immense pain, but because her heart of pure love was completely devoted to God the Father, she humbly obeyed God the Father in every place, at all times, and in every situation. From the time she conceived the Savior until He died on the cross, she only knew how to listen and meditate in her heart on God's teachings. In daily life, when the Blessed Mother encountered difficulties and challenges, she was also worried, afraid, and had 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 Perpetual Virginity. The Blessed Mother is the most exemplary woman for everyone to follow in terms of obedience, listening, and practicing the Word of God the Father. The life of the Savior when He came to earth to become a human is a mystery. No one can fully understand the ways of God the Father. Even when Mother Mary was appointed as the Mother of God, she also had to ponder God's Word over and over in her heart. Through that image of Mother Mary, God also calls people today:

- To have a pure heart, a holy life, be humble, self-abasement, and obey God the Father at all times and in all places.

- To Follow the Blessed Mother's example by collaborating in God's plan of salvation, by listening to and practicing God's word perfectly.

Thanks be to God. Amen