TUESDAY APRIL 30, 2024
TUESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER B
OUR LADY MOTHER OF AFRICA
Acts 1:12-14
John 2:1-11
THE INTERCESSORY ROLE OF MARY IN SALVATION HISTORY
Today, we turn our gaze to the Mother of Jesus who has so much to teach us in our life and journey with Jesus. She disposed herself when called to be the mother of God. She accepted this role wholeheartedly and surrendered herself to divine rulership. She chose to walk along with God and never wavered in her submission to God.
She praised the God who called her in her magnificent. She kept all things pondering them in her heart and only marveled at the works of God. With Jesus, she followed keenly, watching over the infant child Jesus until he grew up and began taking responsibility for his actions.
She was never an obstruction or distraction to the life and mission of her son Jesus Christ, rather she fostered it and even helped him to achieve in the most effective way his life and mission.
Mary in the wedding at Cana gave very direct instruction to us and all disciples to the effect that we do whatever he tells us. That is the most important thing we must always bear in mind. She did not stand in the way of her Son but rather directed us aright to listen, walk and obey his Son in whatever he tells us. She recognizes the nature of her Son as God and her privileged position as mother of God. Her intercessory role is loud and direct.
And She recognizes the difficulties, problems and situations of the people. That when wine got finished, when joy was about to elude the celebrants and when disgrace was about to set into the joyful mood of the wedding guests and invitees, she interceded and asked her Son to come to their aid. This has been her role down through the centuries in her apparitions. She comes to our aid even now, today and always.
Then, her son obliged her even when His time had not come. He answered the call of Mary his mother and listened to her request as a mother and gave the directive to fill the jars with water and so wine was provided in abundance.
This intercessory role is being played today and employed in our lives as Africans confronted by so many problems, difficulties, and situations that have kept us, the continent underdeveloped, poor, plagued with sickness and deprivations of all kinds.
And recognizing that Mary never abandons the disciples even after the death and resurrection of his Son. She stayed with them, encouraging and directing them, praying in their company and enhancing the communitarian life of prayer, sharing and compassion, we are urged to also continue in our prayers with Mary.
Today, the church celebrates her as our great intercessory and companion on the road to salvation. We are urged to asked her help, and intercession and to implore her company in our journey of faith. For praying with her and following her instructions, she never stops to reveal the immensity of God’s love and mercy towards us.
Let them enter into this love of hers as we begin the month of May tomorrow, submitting ourselves and observing the May devotion, a devotion dedicated to her intercession and help.
We must never avoid listening to her instructions to do whatever her Son tells us. Let us then listen to her Son, love her the more and join her to intercede for the continent of Africa in our predicaments.
Hail Mary Full of grace the Lord is with you, blessed are you amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus, Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help
or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, We fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; to thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer them. Amen.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
