Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection May 25, 2026
Monday – 8th Week in Ordinary Time
Mary, Mother of the Church
25th May 2026 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
[After Adam had eaten of the tree,] The Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Psalm 87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7 (R. 3)
R/. Of you are told glorious things, O city of God!
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord; O blessed mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: John 19:25b-34
At that time: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – 8th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Mary became our Mother not in an easy moment, but at the foot of the cross and that gift is meant to change how we live.
1. Yesterday we celebrated Pentecost, when the Spirit filled the first disciples. Today, right after, the Church looks to Mary. That makes sense. A newborn child, after its first breath, looks for its mother’s face.
2. Genesis gives us the first hint. God tells the serpent that the woman’s child will one day crush his head. And Adam names his wife Eve, “the mother of all the living.” Even after the fall, the promise of a mother is already there.
3. Now look at the cross in John’s Gospel. Mary doesn’t run away. She stands there. And as Jesus is dying, He says, “Woman, behold your son.” He isn’t just making sure she is cared for. He is giving her to the disciple — and through him, to all of us.
4. Then the soldier pierces Jesus’ side, and blood and water flow out. Just as Eve came from Adam’s side, the Church and her sacraments flow from the side of Jesus. We didn’t become God’s children by accident. We were bought at the price of a wound.
5. So how do we treat this Mother? Often we shrink her down to a nice statue and a warm feeling. We like her during May processions, then forget her when they end. We want her comfort, but not her courage. We want her tenderness, but not her strength to stand by the cross.
6. Acts shows us a better way. There is Mary in the upper room, praying with the apostles. She isn’t placed above them; she is right among them, on her knees. She reminds us that no good work lasts long without quiet, steady prayer behind it.
7. And she invites us to be like her. The Church grows not mainly through clever plans, but through people who say “yes” to God like Mary did — people willing to bring Christ into a world that often pushes Him away. We are meant to be living parts of God’s family, not just visitors.
My Practice: Stop treating Mary like a decoration. Today, before this day ends, go to her — not only for comfort, but for courage. Ask yourself one honest question: where in my daily life am I standing close to the cross, and where am I quietly running away? Then do what she did. Stand. Pray. And let Jesus reach the world through your actions, not just your words.
