Revision of Scripture Reflections - Mary, Mother of Mercy: Beginning of the Jubilee Year, December 8th from Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:52am

Scripture Quote

When the fullness of time had come, God sent God's Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.  And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba!  Father!'  So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. (Galatians 4:4-7)

Reflection

In the Virgin of Guadalupe's self-introducion to Juan Diego, she said: "I am the Ever-Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the God of Great Truth, of the One through Whom we live, the Creator of Persons, the Owner of what is near and together, of the Lord of Heaven and Earth."  She would also say, "I am your merciful Mother and the mother of all the nations that live on this earth who would love me, who would speak with me, who would search for me, and who would place their confidence in me.  I will hear their laments and remedy and cure all their miseries, misfortunes and sorrows."   

In her Reflections for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Sr. Arlene Flaherty, o.p. would say: "The global economic movement is facilitated by the capacity to make connections.  Through technology, business and popular culture have become shaped by extraordinary advances which facilitate connections in ways and across distances never before imagined.  As extraordinary as the growing capacty for connection is, it is important to examine if and how this kind of connection furthers our consciousness of our intrinsic relatedness to one another."

"The Scriptures today underscore the message that human beings and all of creation are made for relationship.  Though we, like the creation story's first man and woman might fail to live up to the requirements of relationship in any given moment, Paul's words remind us that we are "destined to be family."  In Mary's annunciation experience, all of us are assured that "God is with us."  

The Virgin of Guadalupe concurs.   "I am your Merciful Mother ... I will hear your laments and remedy and cure all your miseries, misfortunes and sorrows ... Speak with me.  Search for me.  Place your confidence in me."

May the sweetness of her countenance of the Mother of Mercy watch over us in this Holy Year, so that all of us may re-discover the joy of God's tenderness.  Mary attests that the mercy of the Son of God knows no bounds and extends to everyone, without exception.  In the words of the Salve Regina, may she never tire of turning her merciful eyes upon us, and make us worthy to contemplate the Face of Mercy, the Face of her Son, Jesus.

-- Pope Francis at the end of his Letter announcing the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy