These months of September and October, we especially seek the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother, as well. We come, confident in Mary’s maternal protection for all those who are suffering in body, mind, spirit or sou, for those who are sick and those who are vulnerable particularly due to this pandemic. We also pray for all those in the frontline, those who assume the beautiful responsibility of taking care of their own loved ones, and those who work in the ministry of care and service to the sick, homebound and the elderly.

We invoke Mary to help us, because we know that she has a mother’s concern for us and she always pays attention to her children’s needs. Wherever we are, the mother of Jesus is there for us. She is calling us to turn to Jesus in our weaknesses and burdens. She is telling us to seek the answers in Him; to remain in Him, like He invites the children to come to Him, as we seek narrated in this weekend’s Gospel according to the tradition of Mark.

In these days of the pandemic, Jesus particularly speaks to those who are sick and those who are healthy: to the sick, as they are called to offer their sufferings and sorrows for others and participate in the work of redemption for the salvation of the world; to the healthy, as they are called by Jesus to reach out to those who are suffering.

So, today, as we gather as a family of God, let us ask our Blessed Mother to bring healing and peace to all those who are sick, and may she help us to bear our suffering, this act of pruning and sanctification, in order to bear more fruit. Let us ask our her to inspire the healthy and strong to stand with the children, the sick and the vulnerable adults as Jesus desires all of us to do.

Sono semipro grate,
Father Erick

(For the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)