Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!

Today is a brand-new day—and not just because the sun made another rotation. Our Holy Father has given us a new feast day to celebrate! Happy Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church!!!

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!

As children of God, we live lives that radiate the generosity of our Father. “Woman, behold, your son.”—“Behold, your mother.” At the cross, Jesus Christ was slowly dying in agonizing pain out of love for us, so that we might be with Him forever and yet He wanted to give us more. He gave us to His Mother who had loved Him perfectly on earth.

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!

What does it mean ‘city of God’?
​
The Lord is not outdone in generosity. After the Ascension, the friends of Jesus were alone and scared—even after being given in relationship to Mary. They were in an upper room, and the Holy Spirit was given to them; this is what we celebrated yesterday in Pentecost! The Apostles were given the zeal to go out and spread the good news and that’s the birthday of the Church!

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!

The Church is the city of God on earth that glorious things are told of, and the Church is loved and cherished by our Mother Mary. I imagine we as the Church, are curled up in the immaculate heart of Mary—safe and seen as only children could be by their Mother. As a Christian, our mission to go forth and baptize isn’t done alone. As a Christian, our fight against sin isn’t done alone. As a Christian, our pains are not asked to be carried alone.

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!

Each day we rise and should call to mind who we are. We are children of the Father. We have been given a sinless Mother to hold us when we cry. We have been afforded a safe place to pour forth who we are by the power of the Spirit. Do you live with the knowledge and the courage won by the grace of God in your life? Do you tell the glorious things that you’ve received in this city of God?

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!

We walked through the desert that is Lent, sharing in the cross of our Lord. We celebrated the resurrection and walked with the apostles in the unknown of life knowing that Christ had died and would be leaving the earth. We entered into the mystery of the Ascension in joyful hope for the Advocate would be sent. We hid with the Apostles in the upper room awaiting the gift of the Spirit. And today, we celebrate right where we are. The Church, the loving Body of Christ, is where we belong and our Lady, the loving Mother of God, is who we belong with. That is a glorious thing.

Jesus gave us His mother, do you see Mary as your mother?

You are an important part of the Church. How do you make sure you are a participant in the Church and not just a spectator?

Do you live with the knowledge and the courage won by the grace of God in your life? Do you tell the glorious things that you’ve received in this city of God?

"Glorious things are told of you, O city of God!"

"Mary Mother of the Church."

"We belong here."

Today, embrace your role as an important member of the Church. How can you spread the word about our faith, the Church and Mary our mother?