If you have ever visited Rome and had a Catholic tour guide, you most likely were taken to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, whose dedication we celebrate today. If you haven’t been, I’d highly recommend it. It is a beautiful and grand basilica dedicated to honor our Blessed Mother.
The original basilica was built in the fourth century under Pope Liberius and was named after him. However, after the council of Ephesus proclaimed Mary, the Mother of God, the basilica was repaired and reconsecrated to honor the Blessed Mother. It is called “major”…is because it is the oldest and largest church in Rome dedicated to Our Lady.
We celebrate this day in the Church as a reminder to acknowledge and praise Our Blessed Mother, who, by giving birth to Jesus, is His Mother and therefore correctly called “ Mary Mother of God.”
Reason for Hope
Today’s reading offers us two lessons, both involve times when we are running low on energy. The first comes from the prophet Jeremiah when he is faced with the prophet Hananiah’s message that runs against what Jeremiah believes God is telling him.
Hananiah’s message that the Jewish people will be free in two years sounds a lot better than what Jeremiah is telling them, that God is in charge and it will be done on His timetable. Jeremiah loses the people at that moment; he is at a loss for what to say.
But, “sometime later,” God inspires Jeremiah, and he returns to try again. Whether in a parish council meeting, your workplace or school, or definitely in conversations with our family members and friends, we are called to trust God to help us persevere and find the right words and way of conveying them. Like Jeremiah, we are called to never give up and trust in God always.
Jesus Moved with Pity
Secondly, I was struck by how Jesus, as He mourned the loss of John the Baptist and sought solitude and time to pray, was moved with pity for the crowds when He saw them. Jesus shifted his focus from his needs to having compassion upon the vast crowd who sought Him out for healing. And, then, He continued by feeding all of them with the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, having more than enough for everyone.
This can be our reminder that God never tires of having compassion for our needs and our loved ones. We can always turn to Him at any time of day or night, even when others might not be able to help us. Likewise, when we are at a loss for words and ideas, we trust that, like Jeremiah, God will give us what we need to do His work.
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and Rosary) at the 30-minute mark on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
