Gospel: September 12, 2025
September 12, 2025 (Friday)
23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 3 (Green/White)
The Most Holy Name of Mary
Ps 16:1b-2a & 5, 7-8, 11
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
1st Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14
Gospel: Luke 6:39-42
And Jesus offered this example, “Can a blind person lead another blind person? Surely both will fall into a ditch. A disciple is not above the master; but when fully trained, he will be like the master. So why do you pay attention to the speck in your brother’s eye, while you have a log in your eye, and are not conscious of it? How can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take this speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t remove the log in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the log from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your neighbor’s eye.
Reflection:
“The disciples never eclipses the master.”
We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to the Mother of God, and so in this feast we recall the wonders bestowed by God upon Mary, as well as meditate upon the graces we receive through Mary’s intercession. The saints encourage us to call on the sweet name of Mary in times of temptation.
For example, Saint Alphonsus de Liguori declares that our trials and temptations will melt like snow upon mentioning her name. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux reminds us that Mary’s union with God as handmaid and Queen means that to speak the name of Mary enkindles not only our love for her, but also our love for God.
Therefore, says Saint Germanus, frequent utterance of the name of Mary is evidence of living in divine grace, just as breathing is evidence of life. When fully trained, the disciple comes to be like his master. Thus, the disciple never eclipses the master, but rather points to him.
So it is with Mary. Fully trained or fully conformed to God’s will by God’s grace, Mary directs us to her Son, interceding for us. May the sweet names of Jesus and Mary reign in our hearts.
