The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our experience of “origin narratives' ' including our introduction into the Life of the Spirit.
The reading from the Book of Genesis outlines the actions that preceded the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden.
* [3:15] They will strike…at their heel: the antecedent for “they” and “their” is the collective noun “offspring,” i.e., all the descendants of the woman. Christian tradition has seen in this passage, however, more than unending hostility between snakes and human beings. The snake was identified with the devil (Wis 2:24; Jn 8:44; Rev 12:9; 20:2), whose eventual defeat seemed implied in the verse. Because “the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8), the passage was understood as the first promise of a redeemer for fallen humankind, the protoevangelium. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. A.D. 130–200), in his Against Heresies 5.21.1, followed by several other Fathers of the Church, interpreted the verse as referring to Christ, and cited Gal 3:19 and 4:4 to support the reference. Another interpretive translation is ipsa, “she,” and is reflected in Jerome’s Vulgate. “She” was thought to refer to Mary, the mother of the messiah. In Christian art Mary is sometimes depicted with her foot on the head of the serpent. (Genesis, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 87 praises the joy of living in Zion.
* [Psalm 87] A song of Zion, like Ps 46; 48; 76; 132. * [87:2] The gates: the city itself, a common Hebrew idiom. * [87:5–6] The bond between the exile and the holy city was so strong as to override the exile’s citizenship of lesser cities. (Psalms, PSALM 87, n.d.)
The Gospel of John takes us to a scene in the Crucifixion where the Beloved Disciple begins to care of Mary and Jesus’ side Is pierced.
* [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. (John, CHAPTER 19, n.d.)
Susan Braddock comments that when Jesus, in his agony on the cross, bequeaths Mary to John (and us all), John responds quickly (at that hour), taking Mary into his home, forming what some call the first church. We can follow this blueprint for our own lives. Do what Jesus asks. Take Mary into our homes, our hearts. At this hour. Hail, Mary.
Growing up in a non-Catholic home, I had no image of Mary other than as a figure in the classic nativity scene. Before I could drive, my own mother, still in her pajamas and bathrobe, would drive me and a friend to church, then return for us when the service was over. I was grateful for that. Christmas time saw the neighborhood kids staging a nativity play – whoever had the youngest baby in the group would offer it, no matter boy or girl, to play the Baby Jesus. I never got to play Mary – always a shepherd. It was a high honor to be chosen to play Mary. Throughout the drama we could hear the adults choking back sobs, touched by the tenderness of it all. There is something about Mary’s role as mother of Jesus that reaches into all hearts. Hail Mary, full of grace. After I joined the Catholic Church, I gradually came to know and appreciate Mary as a strong woman but a tender one. A woman Jesus loved and respected. A woman who formed him not only physically but undoubtedly spiritually as well. A woman we can all call “Mother,” bequeathed to us by her son.( Hail Mary, Gentle Woman by Carey Landry) Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. (Braddock, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 19:25-34 comments that in caring so conscientiously for his mother, Jesus was, in a real sense, also caring for us. For just as he gave his beloved mother to John, he also gave her to each one of us. He knew that we would need a mother. We would need a mother’s special compassion, mercy, wisdom, and tenderness, someone who would intercede and advocate for her children. This was the gift Jesus gave to us, one that we cherish on this special feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.
Mary’s role today is still to be right in the midst of all that is happening in our lives and all that is to come. So with freedom and confidence, turn to her in your need. You can count on Mary’s devotion and heart of mercy. On this feast of Our Lady, turn to her and entrust her with the intentions you hold most dear. Ask her to intercede for you, as she always does, with her tender mother’s heart. “Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.” (Meditation on John 19:25-34, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explores the imagery of Genesis in light of our representation of Mary and the struggle of David with Moab. The matrimonial symbolism in the Gospel of John presents The Beloved Disciple marrying the Church and raising up children for Jesus. Friar Jude reminds us that the Blood and water from Jesus' side initiate the Church in the sacraments of Eucharist and Baptism.
Andreas Ebert (1952–2022) and Patricia C. Brockman, editors of the book Richard Rohr: Illuminations of His Life and Work, summarized the Spirit’s work through the period of Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM,’s ministry with the youth retreat program for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
The young people he taught and led on retreats were overwhelmed with the gospel message. They gathered around this enthusiastic young priest, hungry for Scripture, increasingly eager for the shared life described there. Their weekly prayer gatherings began with fervent charismatic prayer and expanded from a group of teenagers to, at times, more than a thousand persons of many ages and diverse backgrounds. All the signs and wonders of the early church flourished among the prayers. It eventually became clear that enthusiasm was not enough, and among those followers some desired to live in a closer bond and within the discipleship of Christian community. Thus, New Jerusalem came into being, a laboratory-church where many came to commit themselves to the dream of a church that follows and trusts Jesus. This was now no mere ideal, but a palpable reality. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
The action of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church often transforms a difficult start to an initiation in faith that begins a journey to fullness of life.
References
Braddock, S. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060622.html
Genesis, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?9
John, CHAPTER 19. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?25
Meditation on John 19:25-34. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/06/06/405896/
Psalms, PSALM 87. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/87?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Palpable Reality. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-palpable-reality-2022-06-06/
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