Our Mother, Who Art in Heaven

Feb 11: Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes

Today is the World Day of the Sick, instituted by Pope Saint John Paul II thirty-one years ago.¹ He intended this to be a “special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind.”

He picked this day because it’s the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, naturally. Lourdes has a special place in our family. We happen to be members of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Northridge, where Amelia had her First Communion last March.

And most of you reading this know we took Amelia to Lourdes, thanks to the Order of Malta, not long after that.

Today the Order of Malta is hosting² a mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels here in Los Angeles in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. We plan on attending, if Amelia is up to it.³

Reading 1

Is 66:10-14c

Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; Exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, That you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts! For thus says the LORD: Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.

When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bodies flourish like the grass; The LORD's power shall be known to his servants.

Isaiah compares Jerusalem to mothers, because mothers are the most comforting people most of us know. Our mother is there for us, no matter what.

Jerusalem had collapsed, but Isaiah prophesized it would come back, so the remaining Israelites should not mourn. In the same way, we shouldn’t mourn, even when someone as precious as our mother passes, because just as Jerusalem was raised again, so will your mother, along with everyone else who loves God.

Mary, of course, is our mother in heaven. She never died, but was instead taken up. She has an eternal life we can all look forward to sharing in. In the meantime, Mary offers comfort to anyone who prays for her intercession.

Responsorial Psalm

Jdt 13:18bcde, 19

R.     You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R.    You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R.    You are the highest honor of our race.

Judith was a Hebrew heroine who saved Israel from the Assyrians by, um…

Obviously, Jesus mother isn’t violent, but she is blessed and honored for entirely different reasons. But that shows the progression of humanity, from violence to peace. At least, in the idealized form, which Mary is, being God’s most perfect creature.

Alleluia

See Lk 1:45

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

This was Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin,⁴ speaking what would eventually become the third line of the Hail Mary prayer. She’s obviously placing Mary in the line of great Jewish heroines, including Judith.

But the heroism⁵ isn’t due to committing violent acts, but simply and quietly obeying God.

Gospel

Jn 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."

And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter."

So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although they who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now."

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

We talked about this reading about a month ago, as part of the Christmas Octave.

The important thing today is, Jesus listens when Mary intercedes. Like the newlyweds, we should ask Mary for help. Of course, we can ask Jesus directly, but haven’t you ever gotten a letter of recommendation? A request from Mary herself can literally make miracles happen.

On this day, please ask Mary to intercede for Amelia, a special little girl who needs a miracle.

1. It’s also the day Pope Benedict XVI resigned, ten years ago, due to failing health.

2. Is that the right word?

3. (I’m writing this post a day early, for once.)

4. Possibly?

5. Heroineism?