The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

August 15, 2020

Deacon Anthony J. Cincotta

Assistant Director for retreat Ministry

Book of Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab

Psalm 45

First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 15:20-27

Luke 1:39-56

 Today our Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In acknowledging Mary this way we look back to Jesus’ victory celebration in the Resurrection-Ascension as we look forward to our own victorious reward one day.  Just as the Lord Jesus and Mary are taken, body and soul, into heaven so we are promised that, like them, we continue to live on eternally in the presence of God.

However, the focus today is on Mary and her faithfulness to Jesus as His mother.  She is the first and the best of the disciples of Jesus.  Therefore, we can look to her for a sure response to the presence of God in our world.  Her cousin Elizabeth points this out with her acknowledgement, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”  Here we take notice that the context of this greeting is the humble act of “family” love shown by Mary, now pregnant with Jesus, going to visit Elizabeth, whose son “leaped” in her womb” at Mary’s greeting.  This is an extraordinary response to what seems such a simple act on Mary’s part. Mary’s response to Elizabeth quietly yet so strongly acknowledged the incredible grace that encompasses the whole scene.  Her son-to-be is the reason for the leaping with joy.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”   Any and all of the graceful responding in the Gospel narrative is due to God’s love and forgiveness.  So Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother, receives wholeheartedly the beauty and bounty of God.

What does this magnificent yet so human a scene say to us?  Primarily, that God visits us in the ordinary way we live our lives.  Here we see a family meeting of two gifted women and the encounter is filled with joy and the love of God.  Then, that God stays with us throughout our lives giving us the grace and strength to move forward.   Finally, those encounters with God occurring always in the midst of our day-to-day lives are the way that we are saved by God’s tender mercies.

Question of the Day:  How will you resemble the faith and humility of Mary as you live your life in the presence of God?

Prayer:  Gracious God, we pray that we open ourselves to your life-giving presence as we make it through this day.  Be with us and lead us to see that, like Mary, we too are amazingly blessed in the ordinary way we live our life.  Help us to acknowledge as she did the source of that blessing…”the greatness of the Lord.”  Amen.

Please continue to pray for the victims of the Coronavirus and for all who are affected by this unprecedented pandemic as well as for peace in our country and in our world.

Prosit