The Most Holy Name of Mary
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Luke 6:43-49
Reflection:
We honor the holy Name of Mary today, the bearer of our Savior. Let’s explore the wonderful grace that flows from that name and invigorates us, even to this day. Hail, Mary! Full of grace, the Lord is with you. We acknowledge this day as holy by invoking the holy name of Mary.
Honoring her name is a way of calling her into our presence! And what a presence it is! And to heighten our awareness of that grace in our midst let’s recall that her presence, in person or virtually, accompanied the disciples from the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through His Passion and Death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven.
She was “there” through all of it.
St. Paul reminds us today that “a good person, out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good fruit.” Some of those who had been at the crucifixion came to the tomb to bury him properly. This was Mary’s Son, after all! They went to the tomb to wash and clean him, to anoint Him. They knew that he had been buried in a hurry. Before sunset there had been no time to do anything but put him in the tomb. He had to be taken care of. This was Mary’s Son. Simple acts of compassionate kindness made them do this. They just could not leave him like that.
Mary was present in their hearts, and thus greater initiative to do this act of respect, which they had learned from Him! Even though they knew about the resurrection, his life had begun in them, a life that manifested itself not only in all kinds of extraordinary things, but the ways their lives had changed.
The awareness of Mary’s “presence” enabled them to find new meaning and immense joy,
Thus, we continue to honor and proclaim the name of Mary, in everything that we undertake for we are furthering the salvation of the world, that is, living for others and promoting peace, forgiveness and justice from the store of goodness inspired through Mary.
Hail Mary, full of Grace!
Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is a member of the Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan.