FIRST READING: In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, – Hebrews 5:7-9

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice deliver me; incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead and guide me. Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God. But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; rescue me from my enemies, from the hands of my pursuers. How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in the sight of all the people. – Psalm 31: 2-20

HOLY GOSPEL: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. – John 19:25-27

REFLECTION

“Behold, your mother”
Blessed Guerric of Igny
Cistercian abbot

Mary bore a Son. In heaven, he is the Only-begotten of the Father; on earth, likewise, he is the Only-begotten of his Mother… She who is the only Virgin-Mother, she who glories in having borne the Only-begotten of the Father, embraces that same Only-begotten of hers in all his members and so can be truly called Mother of all in whom she recognizes her Christ to have been formed, or in whom she knows he is being formed. Eve handed on to her children an inheritance of certain death rather than the beginning of light. She is indeed called the mother of all the living, (Gen 3,20) but… as she was incapable of fulfilling the vocation of her title, Mary consummated the mystery. She herself, like the Church of which she is the type, is a mother of all who are reborn to life. She is, in fact, the mother of the Life by which everyone lives, and when she brought it forth from herself, she in some way brought to rebirth all those who were to live by that Life…

Thus the blessed Mother of Christ, knowing that she is the mother of all Christians by reason of this mystery, shows herself a mother by her care and loving attention. For her heart is not hardened against these children as if they were not her own; her womb carried a child once only, yet it remains ever fruitful, never ceasing to bring forth the fruits of her motherly compassion. The blessed Fruit of your womb» (Lk 1,42), 0 holy Mother, left you pregnant with inexhaustible tenderness. He was born of you once and for all, yet he remains in you always.