Church, the mother of all nations
May 2, 2023 - Tuesday, Fourth Week of Easter
Psalm 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
Psalm 87 sings about Jerusalem as uniquely loved by God: “The Lord loves it more” than any other city in Israel (see Ps 87:2). Then the psalmist further describes the city as the mother of the nations that, with exception of Ethiopia, are portrayed in the Bible as enemies of God’s people: Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, and Tyre. But in describing the “city of God” in this extraordinary way does the psalmist speak about the earthly Jerusalem?
The Christian tradition easily recognises in the description of this city the heavenly Jerusalem. The earthly Jerusalem was built upon the mountains. The new Jerusalem has been established “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Eph 2:20). The Book of Revelation reveals to us the beauty of that city “having the glory of God” and high walls with twelve gates built on the twelve foundations with the names of the apostles of Jesus Christ written on them (see Rev 21:12-14).
The Church is indeed the Mother of all nations. In the sacrament of baptism, she gives birth to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Thus it can be said of the Church what the psalmist said of Zion: “One and all were born in her” (Ps 87:5). After we are baptised, our names are written in the baptismal book of our parishes. This book with its names points to the book of the life mentioned in the Scripture (see Ex 32:32; Luke 10:20; Rev 17:8).
But, a similar thing can be said of the most glorious daughter of Zion, the Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the foot of the cross, Jesus made her the mother of all his disciples (John 19:25-27). If Eve was the mother of all living (see Gen 3:20), Mary is the mother of all born of water and Spirit, the mother of “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 12:17).
The Church becomes the place of universal rebirth through the sacraments. She is our mother. And within the Church, the Mother of the Redeemer “by her maternal charity, … cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and hardships, until they are led into the happiness of their true home” (Lumen Gentium, 62). Then, we hope to sing together with all the redeemed in a festive dance: “My home is within you” (Ps 87:7).