Entrance Antiphon
People will never cease to praise you, as they recall the power of the Lord for ever.
Collect
Lord, as we honour the glorious memory of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Africa, we ask that by the help of her prayers we too may come to share the fullness of your grace and live in harmony and peace as one family. Through our Lord…
FIRST READING
They devoted themselves to prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostle (Acts1:12-14)
(After Jesus was taken up into heaven,) the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Luke1:46-47.48-49.50-51.52-53.54-55 (R. 49)
R/. He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his name.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my savior. R/.
For he has regarded the low
estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generation
will call me blessed;
For he who is mighty has done
great things for me,
And holy is his name. R/.
R/. He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And his mercy is on those who fear him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
He has scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts. R/.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalt those of low degree;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich he has sent empty away. R/.
R/. He who is mighty has done great things for me,
He has helped his servant Israel,
In remembrance of his mercy,
As he spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his posterity forever. R/.
ALLELUIA
ALLELUIA. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise. You are the Mother of Christ, you are the Mother of the Church. ALLELUIA
Gospel
And the mother of Jesus was there.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 2:1-11)
At that time: There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what is that to you or to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who has drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated under various titles. Today we celebrate her as the Mother of Africa. In Africa, just like any other culture, motherhood is a treasure, and children revere and honour their mothers. Mary is a mother, who always cares for her children. The first reading reminds us that she is always present in the church at prayer, praying with and interceding for her children. She is the surest way to her Son. The couple at Cana experienced her maternal love. Mary, convinced that whatever she asked the Son would be obtained told the servants “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.” This injunction is repeated to us today to always do the will of the son as a way of appreciating his mother.