DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 15, 2012
WEDNESDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Vigil: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15- 16; 16:1-2 / 1 Cor 15:54b-57 / Lk 11:27-28
Day: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab / 1 Cor 15;20- 27 / Lk 1:39-56

REVELATIONS 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB
Then the sanctuary of God in the heavens was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant of God could be seen inside the sanctuary. There were flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a violent hail -storm. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain, looking to her time of delivery. Then another sign appeared: a huge, red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and wearing seven crowns on its heads. It had just swept along a third of the stars of heaven with its tail, throwing them down to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour the child as soon as it was born. She gave birth to a male child, the one who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter; then her child was seized and taken up to God and to his throne while the woman fled to the desert where God had prepared a place for her; there she would be looked after for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Then I heard a loud voice from heaven: Now has salvation come, with the power and the kingdom of our God, and the rule of his anointed. For our brothers' accuser has been cast out, who accused them night and day, before God.

1 CORINTHIANS 15;20- 27
But no, Christ has been raised from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. However, each one in his own time: first Christ, then Christ's people, when he comes. Then the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he must reign and put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. As Scripture says: God has subjected everything under his feet. When we say that everything is put under his feet, we exclude, of course, the Father who subjects everything to him.

LUKE 1:39-56
Mary then set out for a town in the hill country of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!" And Mary said, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name! From age to age his mercy extends to those who live in his presence. He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up those who are downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy, even as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever." Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.

REFLECTION
We celebrate today the Assumption of our Blessed Mother into heaven, body and soul. It was only as recent as 1950 that Pius XII solemnly defined this to be an article of our faith and declared that "the Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, when the course of her earthly life was ended, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven."

From our readings alone, Mary is referred to as: full of grace, blessed among women, the woman clothed with the sun. Such titles express the Church's recognition of the honor that belongs to Mary as Mother of God. But at the same time, we cannot deny that such adulation has turned off some well-meaning Catholics. To them, Mary is seen as a rival to Jesus in honor. Some have said that Mary does not deserve this much honor because, unlike ourselves, she was not ordinary as we are. She was set apart by God and protected from evil from the very start.

But this reasoning springs from two presuppositions that must be identified. First, that somehow the honors and privileges bestowed on Mary made her less free to sin and therefore less human, less like us. The same complaint actually lurks behind the sentiment that Jesus isn't really human, like us. But are we human because we can sin, or are we human because we can do good? If being human is defined by the good that we are, since God created us good, then Mary and Jesus are more human than we are, not the other way around.

Second, that because of God's favors Mary could not have sinned. Her holiness simply flowed out from God's favors. To this, we must say that God spared Mary only from original sin, not from the possibility of sin. God's grace, God's favors always require our cooperation. And the work of grace is never a one-shot deal. It is always ongoing, always interacting with our selves, drawing us in love.

And so, Mary's honors and privileges, the crowning glory of which is her assumption into heaven, are all received by Mary on our behalf, on behalf of humanity. She is like us; we can be like her. In her glory, we catch a glimpse of the glory that awaits us.

Being holy does not mean being shielded from temptation. It means being tempted and choosing to do good anyway. We are ordinary creatures, like Mary, who depend on God to be saved. And yet, we too are extraordinary, like Mary, meant for the glory of heaven. May we all heartily join Mary as her whole being proclaims the greatness of God!

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Kathy
- Eric John Paul Benitez and Robert Joseph Benitez
- Mon Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
- Tito Oreta
- Margie Rojas, Rj Sombrero, Tita Tipin
- Flor
… for the personal intentions of
- Beny Chua
- Veronica Yap
… for those affected by the recent floods in the Philippines. May the Lord continue to give them strength to persevere.
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Jayson Ortile
- Rowena Lacida Yap
- Bong Lacida
- Jess Garces
- Papa Nelo
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Adolfo R. Pe (Aug 15, 1935-Jan 3, 1995)+
- Birthday: Sharah Mae Go Kaw
- Birthday: Cristie Zialcita
- Birthday: Ofelia C. Rodavia
- Prayer Intention: Management, Officers & Staff of LDI
- Presbyterial Ordination: Georges Etienne Beauregard, SJ
- In Memoriam (+): Potenciana Tee
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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