The Memorial of Immaculate Heart of Mary

The heart of Mary is pure and unblemished.

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 10th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of Immaculate Heart of Mary, June 17th, 2023 Texts: 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21; Psalm 103: 1-4.8-9.11-12; Luke 2:41-52 

The memorial of Immaculate Heart of Mary is today. Yesterday we celebrated the most sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart that is so close to that of Jesus is the heart of His mother, Mary.  It is the heart that is free of sins. We remind ourselves today that the heart of Mary is pure and unblemished. We learn from today’s gospel reading that it is the heart that treasured the mysteries of Christ. St. Luke says, “and his mother kept all these things in her heart.”  

What she kept in her heart was the word of her Son, Jesus Christ. We read, “And he (Jesus Christ) said to them, ‘How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?’ and they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” This teaches us to always treasure the word of God in our hearts. Keeping the word of God in our hearts purifies our hearts. It is when our hearts are clean that we can be holy.  

This heart of Mary knew the sorrow of raising children. We read, “when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. ... and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple”. The three days must have been days of anxiety, fear, and the likes. The heart also bore the joy of watching him growing in stature, maturity, wisdom and obedience. Our hearts too cannot but know joy and sorrow for good health.  

The heart we celebrate today is the kind that the love of Christ urged on. The love of Christ urged it on to treasure His word. This is because of her conviction that her Son is also the Son of God and Saviour of the world. We need to be like Mary and allow the love of Christ urges on. The love of Christ urges us on when it dictates our speech and actions. When this happens we become a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.  

Apostle Paul reminds us today that the love of Christ in us is based on our conviction. In his words: “The love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.” The result of conviction that Christ died for us is that we live no longer for ourselves but for Christ. Apostle Paul says, “And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” This teaches us that when our conviction about Christ is strong, His love will urge us on. 

Prayer 

O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke