The perfect disciple

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church connect Mary to the her role in the community of the Church as Theotokos who gives us the model to emulate of bringing Christ into the world.

The text from the Acts of the Apostles describes the early Church community in Jerusalem in which Mary has a special place.

Pope Benedict XVI assures us of his constant remembrance of Christian communities in prayer, and as he invokes upon each one Mary's motherly protection.

Parishes find strength in constant union with Christ in order to dedicate themselves without interruption to the service of the brethren, especially the poor, for whom they in fact represent the first reference point.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, while I express my deep appreciation to you for the activity of animation and service that you carry out, I cordially hope that the Plenary Assembly will help to make the lay faithful ever more aware of their mission in the Church, especially within the parish community, which is a "family" of Christian families

In the Gospel of John, Mary permits the adoption of John as son as per Jesus request so that we “beloved disciples” might raise children in the Church for Jesus.

* [19:26–27] This scene has been interpreted literally, of Jesus’ concern for his mother; and symbolically, e.g., in the light of the Cana story in Jn 2 (the presence of the mother of Jesus, the address woman, and the mention of the hour) and of the upper room in Jn 13 (the presence of the beloved disciple; the hour). Now that the hour has come (Jn 19:28), Mary (a symbol of the church?) is given a role as the mother of Christians (personified by the beloved disciple); or, as a representative of those seeking salvation, she is supported by the disciple who interprets Jesus’ revelation; or Jewish and Gentile Christianity (or Israel and the Christian community) are reconciled.

Scott McClure advocates that to honor Mary’s maternity to us is to emulate it, bringing Christ into the world.

Several years ago I was given the chance to go on pilgrimage to Mexico City, specifically to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The mystery of the tilma and Mary’s appearance to Saint Juan Diego enthralled me, and still does. As I continue to process this event, as well as other recorded Marian apparitions, today’s gospel sheds new light for me on how Mary chooses to relate to us as our Mother.

Don Schwager reminds us Mary's mission is inseparably linked with the mission of her Son, the Lord Jesus. Mary's mission as the bearer of the Son of God  (theotokos which means God-bearer in Greek) is inseparably linked with the mission of her Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the grace and gift of the Holy Spirit Mary becomes the first disciple and a spiritual mother of a new humanity who are born again through her son, the Lord Jesus, as he refers to Irenaeus, an early second century bishop of Lyons (130-200 AD).

"The Lord, coming into his own creation in visible form, was sustained by his own creation which he himself sustains in being. His obedience on the tree of the cross reversed the disobedience at the tree in Eden; the good news of the truth announced by an angel to Mary, a virgin subject to a husband, undid the evil lie that seduced Eve, a virgin espoused to a husband...As Eve was seduced by the word of an angel and so fled from God after disobeying his word, Mary in her turn was given the good news by the word of an angel, and bore God in obedience to his word. As Eve was seduced into disobedience to God, so Mary was persuaded into obedience to God; thus the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve...The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith" (quotes from Against Heresies (Lib. 5, 19, 1; 20, 2; 21,1: SC 153, 248-250. 260-264)

Background on the Meaning of Theotokos is offered by the International Marian Research Institute.

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Luke’s account in Acts of Mary in the Upper Room with the apostles shows Mary as the perfect disciple and as what we should be. He explores the Levirate marriage connection in the Gospel where we as the Beloved Disciple and brother of Jesus raise up Children for Jesus after His death.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites the work of Cynthia Bourgeault, who sees the psalms as a powerful prophetic art form . . . It is in the singing of the psalms ( like Psalm 87 today ) that something deeper is revealed.

The visit of Bishop Robert Barron to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe during the filming of the during the filming of the CATHOLICISM series in Mexico reveals a deeper connection of Mary to change the heart of millions to turn toward Her Son.

The Church, Body of Christ, recognizes Mary, Mother of God as Mother of Church.

References


(2006, September 22). Library : Parishes Be Inspired By the First Community of Jerusalem .... Retrieved May 21, 2018, from https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7227

(n.d.). John 19:26-27. Retrieved May 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john19.htm

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved May 21, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 21, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Theotokos, Meaning of : University of Dayton, Ohio. Retrieved May 21, 2018, from https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/t/theotokos-meaning-of.php

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 21, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/