(Optional
Memorial)
Mass Readings: Is
61:10-11 1 Sam 2:1.4-8 Lk 2:41-51
Key Verse to Meditate:
His mother treasured all these things in her heart (Lk 2:51).
My dear
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The Church traditionally celebrates the optional
memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Saturday following the
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which falls on the Friday after
the second Sunday following Pentecost—towards the end of June each year. This
liturgical pairing highlights the profound union of the hearts of Jesus and
Mary.
The First Reading
The first reading, drawn from Trito-Isaiah (chapters 56–66), is set not in
Babylon—as in Second Isaiah (chapters 40–55)—but in Jerusalem and Judah,
addressing the context after the return from exile and the restoration of the
people (cf. Isaiah 60:1–7, 10–14). In the opening verses of chapter 61 (vv.
1–3), we encounter the call of a prophet who declares that he has been anointed
with the Spirit of the Lord. This divine anointing signifies that he has been
uniquely endowed with the gift of God’s Spirit. The mission entrusted to him,
therefore, is filled with profound meaning, radiating joy and hope. His calling
is not one of condemnation, but of renewal—bringing good news to the poor,
healing the broken-hearted, proclaiming liberty to captives, and announcing the
year of the Lord’s favour. It is a message that overflows with the excitement
of one who knows he has been sent by God to be a herald of restoration and
consolation.
A Hymn of Thanksgiving
The First Reading is a hymn of thanksgiving (Is 61:10–11; cf. Is 42:10–13),
addressed to Yahweh, who had spoken in the preceding verses (Is 61:8–9). While
the promises of hope in Second Isaiah may have seemed distant or even
unattainable, in Trito-Isaiah they are reaffirmed through a joyful
proclamation—not of judgment, but of good news and divine favour. The prophet
is deeply convinced that God will reveal His benevolence to those who are
genuinely open to receiving the gratuitous gift of salvation.
The First Magnificat (Is 61:10)
This ministry is one of healing the broken-hearted, setting captives free,
comforting the afflicted, and gladdening the sorrowful. In this spirit, the
prophet bursts forth in a song of exultation, echoing the joy of Mary in Luke’s
Gospel. Like the Blessed Virgin in her Magnificat, the prophet proclaims:
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness” (Is 61:10).
This declaration may be seen as the “First Magnificat”—a prophetic
anticipation of the Gospel canticle of Mary—where joy arises not from material
prosperity, but from God's fidelity and the coming fulfilment of His promises.
Rejoicing in the Lord
Zion is not merely rejoicing in expectation of
future blessings; it is rejoicing in the Lord
Himself, in acknowledgment of His mighty deeds already set in motion. The
imagery of new clothing—garments of salvation and a robe of
righteousness—symbolizes a renewed status before God (cf. Zechariah 3:3–5;
Psalm 132:9, 16; Isaiah 59:17). Just as “a bridegroom decks himself with a
garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10), the
Lord Himself clothes His people—body, soul, and spirit—in dignity and holiness.
This transformative grace is also the essence of Mary’s praise in her
Magnificat.
Furthermore, Israel is depicted as a garden or
vineyard tended by the Lord. God, the divine gardener, ensures that the seeds
of righteousness and praise will sprout and flourish before the eyes of all
nations:
“For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11).
In this vision, salvation is not a private or hidden reality. It is visible,
vibrant, and destined to draw the gaze of the nations. Just as Mary rejoiced
because the Almighty had done great things for her, so too does the prophet
invite Israel—and us—to rejoice in the God who clothes us with grace and causes
righteousness to blossom for the world to see.
The Gospel Reading
St. Luke beautifully portrays Mary’s heart in today’s
Gospel: “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart”
(Lk 2:19), and again, “His mother treasured all these things in her heart”
(Lk 2:51). These verses reflect the silent, contemplative depth of Mary’s inner
life—her capacity to receive, reflect, and respond to the mystery of God.
Artists have often depicted the Immaculate Heart of
Mary encircled with roses and pierced by seven swords, symbolizing her Seven
Sorrows. This imagery conveys the profound interplay of joy and sorrow, virtue
and trial, and above all, her virginal love for the Father, maternal love for
her Son, and compassionate love for all humanity. At the foot of the Cross,
Mary is entrusted to us: “Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your
mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home” (Jn
19:27). In her suffering under the Cross, Mary embraced the pain of the world
with maternal understanding and spiritual strength.
The Heart of Mary
Simeon's prophecy had already prepared her for this
moment: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Lk 2:35). The heart
of Mary is a heart acquainted with grief—yet it is also a heart filled with
steadfast faith and unwavering hope.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Today’s Gospel recounts the story of the
twelve-year-old Jesus remaining behind in the temple at Jerusalem. It may seem
strange to us that Mary and Joseph could lose Jesus, but in our human
experience, similar things can happen. I remember an incident after Sunday
Mass, when a child was accidentally left behind in the church. After calling
the number the boy gave us, his surprised parents quickly returned to collect
him.
Likewise, it might have seemed surprising that
Jesus was not with them. Yet, when Mary expresses her anxiety, Jesus’ response
shifts the moment: “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I
must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49). Though Mary did not fully
understand his words, we are told again: “His mother treasured all these
things in her heart.”
Meaning of the word “immaculate”
The word “immaculate” means "without
stain"—pure, clean, unblemished. We use this word to describe something
that is in perfect order: “The room is immaculate,” meaning spotless and tidy;
or “You look immaculate,” meaning everything is in elegant harmony—clothes, grooming,
demeanour. So, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is that perfect and sinless
interior sanctuary, where God's grace dwells fully. Also, the Immaculate Heart
of Mary refers to her inner life: her thoughts, emotions, and most importantly,
her openness to God. Her heart was completely attuned to the Word of God and
full of grace.
The Heart
In biblical language, the heart is not only
the seat of emotions but also the center of decision, desire, faith, and will.
It is the space where love and courage, trust and sorrow, are felt. To say
someone “has a heart” is to attribute to them compassion and humanity.
Mary “kept all these things in her heart”—meaning
she entered into a deep contemplation of God’s action in her life. Before the
Word was made flesh in her womb, it was welcomed and embraced in her heart.
Called to Ponder and Meditate
We too are invited to cultivate this inner space.
Like Mary, we are called to ponder, to meditate, and to treasure the workings
of God in our lives. God speaks in the silence of the heart—in our daily
experiences, our moments of prayer, our conversations, and even in our trials.
In this interior silence, the Holy Spirit teaches and strengthens us, if we are
attentive.
Allowing the Heart to Rest in God
Mary’s heart was not only immaculate because of her
sinlessness, but also because she allowed nothing but God’s will to dwell
there. Our hearts, too, must be cleansed—not places to store resentment, fear,
or sin, but temples where God’s Word can dwell richly. “This book of the law
shall not depart from your mouth… meditate on it day and night” (Josh 1:8).
“On His law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:2).
Points
for Personal Reflection
- What do I do during my
moments of meditation?
- Does my heart yearn to know
and do God’s will as Mary’s heart did?
- What usually occupies my
mind and heart—worldly worries or divine truths?
- Do I take time to ponder
God’s Word and His action in my life as Mary did?
Let us ask
the Blessed Virgin Mary to lend us her immaculate heart—a heart that listens,
loves, obeys, and trusts—even amid confusion and suffering. May our hearts be
more like hers: pure, receptive, and open to God's transforming love.
