Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First Saturday – let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
First reading Colossians 1:21-23
Saint Paul gives us the core of the Christian mystery: “He has reconciled us, by his death and in that mortal body.” The reconciliation of humanity with God is not an idea, nor an abstract doctrine, but an event in history, Jesus Christ offering His mortal body on the Cross so that we might appear before Him holy, pure, and blameless. Our identity as reconciled children rests solely on His sacrifice, not on our own merits. Yet Paul also warns that this gift must be safeguarded: “as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of the faith, never drifting from the hope promised by the Good News.” Christ’s death is the foundation, but perseverance in faith is the way we remain anchored to Him. On this First Saturday, we entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whose entire life was a perfect response to Christ’s reconciling love. She teaches us to remain faithful, never drifting, and to keep our hope alive in her Son who has already bridged the distance between us and God. Let’s reflect: Do I remain firmly anchored in the reconciling love of Christ, persevering in faith and hope, or do I allow myself to drift from the Good News that He sealed with His mortal body on the Cross?
Don Giorgio