The Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of Divine Hope
Saturday February 13, 2021
by Rev. Jose Maria Cortes, F.S.C.E.,
Chaplain,
Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Washington, D.C.
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Sunday Reading Meditations
Today we are celebrating the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Divine Hope. Mary is a star, a beacon of unfailing hope. We raise our eyes to Mary, that we may receive the grace to hope under all circumstances.
However, as the French poet Charles Péguy wrote, “But hope is not obvious. Hope does not come on its own. To hope, […] you would have to be quite fortunate, to have obtained, received a great grace.”
Mary is the Mother of Hope because she is full of grace. As she says in the Magnificat, “The Mighty One has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49).
God’s grace opens our hearts to hope. Today’s first reading says: “Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits. You will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb” (Sir 24:18–19). In Saint Peter’s first letter, he admonishes: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Pt 3:15). When we hope in God, we become a sign of hope for everyone.
In today’s Gospel, the wine that ran short is like human hope. Instead of putting our hope in people, circumstances or anything else of this world, Mary teaches us to put our hope in God.
Today’s entrance antiphon says: “Hail, Virgin Mary, hope of God’s people: you come to the aid of all who have no hope, you look with love on all who seek your help.” In the Gospel reading, Mary says to Jesus: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Mary is attuned to the needs of men. Through her intercession, our hopelessness is transformed into hope. Human hope is finite but divine hope is inexhaustible. It is the good wine that comes at the end: “The headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now’” (Jn 2:10).
We believe that the best is yet to come. “Blessed are you who have believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord will be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45). Like Mary, we hope because we believe that God’s plan is being fulfilled. We hope for the fulfillment of all things in Christ. No matter what happens, our future is positive.
We hope because we believe in eternal life. We hope because our hearts are fixed on the world to come: “According to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pt 3:13). As Saint Paul says, “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all” (1 Cor 15:19).
Today, we pray in a special way for those who are feeling hopeless. O Blessed Virgin Mary, may they encounter your son Jesus as a real presence in their lives. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope, teach us to believe, to hope, to love with you. Show us the way to his Kingdom! Star of the Sea, shine upon us and guide us on our way! Amen.
Today we are celebrating the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Divine Hope. Mary is a star, a beacon of unfailing hope. We raise our eyes to Mary, that we may receive the grace to hope under all circumstances.
However, as the French