Mass Readings: Is 61:10-11   1 Sam 2:1.4-8   Lk 2:41-51

Key Verse to Meditate: His mother treasured all these things in her heart (Lk 2:51).

My dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

The Church traditionally celebrates the optional memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Saturday following the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which falls on the Friday after the second Sunday following Pentecost—towards the end of June each year. This liturgical pairing highlights the profound union of the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

The First Reading

The first reading, drawn from Trito-Isaiah (chapters 56–66), is set not in Babylon—as in Second Isaiah (chapters 40–55)—but in Jerusalem and Judah, addressing the context after the return from exile and the restoration of the people (cf. Isaiah 60:1–7, 10–14). In the opening verses of chapter 61 (vv. 1–3), we encounter the call of a prophet who declares that he has been anointed with the Spirit of the Lord. This divine anointing signifies that he has been uniquely endowed with the gift of God’s Spirit. The mission entrusted to him, therefore, is filled with profound meaning, radiating joy and hope. His calling is not one of condemnation, but of renewal—bringing good news to the poor, healing the broken-hearted, proclaiming liberty to captives, and announcing the year of the Lord’s favour. It is a message that overflows with the excitement of one who knows he has been sent by God to be a herald of restoration and consolation.

A Hymn of Thanksgiving

The First Reading is a hymn of thanksgiving (Is 61:10–11; cf. Is 42:10–13), addressed to Yahweh, who had spoken in the preceding verses (Is 61:8–9). While the promises of hope in Second Isaiah may have seemed distant or even unattainable, in Trito-Isaiah they are reaffirmed through a joyful proclamation—not of judgment, but of good news and divine favour. The prophet is deeply convinced that God will reveal His benevolence to those who are genuinely open to receiving the gratuitous gift of salvation.

The First Magnificat (Is 61:10)

This ministry is one of healing the broken-hearted, setting captives free, comforting the afflicted, and gladdening the sorrowful. In this spirit, the prophet bursts forth in a song of exultation, echoing the joy of Mary in Luke’s Gospel. Like the Blessed Virgin in her Magnificat, the prophet proclaims:

“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness” (Is 61:10).

This declaration may be seen as the “First Magnificat”—a prophetic anticipation of the Gospel canticle of Mary—where joy arises not from material prosperity, but from God's fidelity and the coming fulfilment of His promises.

Rejoicing in the Lord

Zion is not merely rejoicing in expectation of future blessings; it is rejoicing in the Lord Himself, in acknowledgment of His mighty deeds already set in motion. The imagery of new clothing—garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness—symbolizes a renewed status before God (cf. Zechariah 3:3–5; Psalm 132:9, 16; Isaiah 59:17). Just as “a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10), the Lord Himself clothes His people—body, soul, and spirit—in dignity and holiness. This transformative grace is also the essence of Mary’s praise in her Magnificat.

Furthermore, Israel is depicted as a garden or vineyard tended by the Lord. God, the divine gardener, ensures that the seeds of righteousness and praise will sprout and flourish before the eyes of all nations:

“For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,

So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11).

In this vision, salvation is not a private or hidden reality. It is visible, vibrant, and destined to draw the gaze of the nations. Just as Mary rejoiced because the Almighty had done great things for her, so too does the prophet invite Israel—and us—to rejoice in the God who clothes us with grace and causes righteousness to blossom for the world to see.

The Gospel Reading

St. Luke beautifully portrays Mary’s heart in today’s Gospel: “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2:19), and again, “His mother treasured all these things in her heart” (Lk 2:51). These verses reflect the silent, contemplative depth of Mary’s inner life—her capacity to receive, reflect, and respond to the mystery of God.

Artists have often depicted the Immaculate Heart of Mary encircled with roses and pierced by seven swords, symbolizing her Seven Sorrows. This imagery conveys the profound interplay of joy and sorrow, virtue and trial, and above all, her virginal love for the Father, maternal love for her Son, and compassionate love for all humanity. At the foot of the Cross, Mary is entrusted to us: “Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home” (Jn 19:27). In her suffering under the Cross, Mary embraced the pain of the world with maternal understanding and spiritual strength.

The Heart of Mary

Simeon's prophecy had already prepared her for this moment: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Lk 2:35). The heart of Mary is a heart acquainted with grief—yet it is also a heart filled with steadfast faith and unwavering hope.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Today’s Gospel recounts the story of the twelve-year-old Jesus remaining behind in the temple at Jerusalem. It may seem strange to us that Mary and Joseph could lose Jesus, but in our human experience, similar things can happen. I remember an incident after Sunday Mass, when a child was accidentally left behind in the church. After calling the number the boy gave us, his surprised parents quickly returned to collect him.

Likewise, it might have seemed surprising that Jesus was not with them. Yet, when Mary expresses her anxiety, Jesus’ response shifts the moment: “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49). Though Mary did not fully understand his words, we are told again: “His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”

Meaning of the word “immaculate”

The word “immaculate” means "without stain"—pure, clean, unblemished. We use this word to describe something that is in perfect order: “The room is immaculate,” meaning spotless and tidy; or “You look immaculate,” meaning everything is in elegant harmony—clothes, grooming, demeanour. So, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is that perfect and sinless interior sanctuary, where God's grace dwells fully. Also, the Immaculate Heart of Mary refers to her inner life: her thoughts, emotions, and most importantly, her openness to God. Her heart was completely attuned to the Word of God and full of grace.

The Heart

In biblical language, the heart is not only the seat of emotions but also the center of decision, desire, faith, and will. It is the space where love and courage, trust and sorrow, are felt. To say someone “has a heart” is to attribute to them compassion and humanity.

Mary “kept all these things in her heart”—meaning she entered into a deep contemplation of God’s action in her life. Before the Word was made flesh in her womb, it was welcomed and embraced in her heart.

Called to Ponder and Meditate

We too are invited to cultivate this inner space. Like Mary, we are called to ponder, to meditate, and to treasure the workings of God in our lives. God speaks in the silence of the heart—in our daily experiences, our moments of prayer, our conversations, and even in our trials. In this interior silence, the Holy Spirit teaches and strengthens us, if we are attentive.

Allowing the Heart to Rest in God

Mary’s heart was not only immaculate because of her sinlessness, but also because she allowed nothing but God’s will to dwell there. Our hearts, too, must be cleansed—not places to store resentment, fear, or sin, but temples where God’s Word can dwell richly. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth… meditate on it day and night” (Josh 1:8). “On His law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:2).

Points for Personal Reflection

• What do I do during my moments of meditation?
• Does my heart yearn to know and do God’s will as Mary’s heart did?
• What usually occupies my mind and heart—worldly worries or divine truths?
• Do I take time to ponder God’s Word and His action in my life as Mary did?

Let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to lend us her immaculate heart—a heart that listens, loves, obeys, and trusts—even amid confusion and suffering. May our hearts be more like hers: pure, receptive, and open to God's transforming love.