IMMACULATE HEART OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)
Ps 71:8-9, 14-15ab, 16-17, 22
My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
1st Reading: 2 Tim 4:1-8
In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by the hope I have of his coming, and his kingdom, I urge you to preach the word, in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking, or advising, always with patience, and providing instruction. For the time is coming, when people will no longer endure sound doctrine, but, following their passions, they will surround themselves with teachers to please their itching ears. 4 And they will abandon the truth to hear fables. So be prudent, do not mind your labor, give yourself to your work as an evangelist, fulfi ll your ministry.
As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. I have fought the good fi ght, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the just judge, will reward me, on that day, and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming.
Gospel: Lk 2:41-51
Every year, the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. And when Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them, according to the custom of this feast. After the festival was over, they returned, but the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents did not know it.
They assumed that he was in their group of travelers, and, after walking the whole day, they looked for him among their relatives and friends. As they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem, searching for him; and on the third day, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all the people were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
His parents were very surprised when they saw him; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I were very worried while searching for you.” Then he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand this answer.
Jesus went down with them, returning to Nazareth, and he continued to be obedient to them. As for his mother, she kept all these things in her heart.
Reflections
She kept all these things
in her heart
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is intertwined with her Immaculate Conception. Doctrinally, the Church proclaims that at the moment of her conception, she was spared from the stains of original sin. This implies that God preserved in her what was lost in us due to original sin — the state of sanctifying grace or original justice. For us who have lost sanctifying grace, we experience and battle concupiscence, the attraction to sin. For Mary, in whom sanctifying grace was preserved, was wholly oriented in mind, heart and will to God. Thus, we honor her and emulate her Immaculate Heart.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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