Word of the day

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
1 COR 12:12-14, 27-31A

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.

Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church
to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

From the Gospel according to John
JN 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
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.

And in this time, of perceived orphanhood, this word has great importance. Jesus tells us: I will not leave you orphaned, I give you a mother. This legacy is also our pride: we have a mother, who is with us, who protects us, accompanies us, helps us, even in difficult times, in bad moments. The Church is a mother. She is our ‘Holy Mother Church’  which engenders us in baptism, enables us to grow in her community: Mother Mary and Mother Church know how to caress their children, they give tenderness. And where there is motherhood there is life, there is joy, there is peace; one grows in peace. (Santa Marta, 15 September 2015)