DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 15, 2019 - THURSDAY, ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Solemnity. White

Vigil: 1 Chr 15: 3 – 4, 15 – 16; 16: 1– 2 / 1 Cor 15: 54b – 57 / Lk 11: 27 – 28

Day: Rev 11: 19a; 12: 1– 6a, 10ab / 1 Cor 15: 20 – 27 / Lk 1: 39 – 56

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated in the East as early as the sixth century and in the West by the seventh century. On 01 November 1950 Pope Pius XII (Munificentissimus Deus) formally defined "as a divinely revealed dogma: The Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, after her life on earth, was assumed, body and soul, to the glory of heaven."

FROM THE 1ST READING (Day): Rev 12: 1 – 2, 5
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 with child and cried out in pain, looking to her time of delivery. . . 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 his throne. .. .

From the 2nd Reading (Vigil): 1 Cor 15: 54b – 55
. . .. the word of Scripture will be fulfilled: Death has been swallowed up by victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?

FROM THE GOSPEL READING (Day): Lk 1: 41 – 47
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the 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 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!"

REFLECTION
What is common in the Mass readings today is "movement." In the first reading (Day Mass) we see a mother about to give birth: there is movement from the womb into the world. Another movement is the woman fleeing to the desert prepared by God for her..

In the second reading (Vigil Mass) we see movement from death to life in the resurrection of Christ. God destroys death and all are brought to everlasting life prepared for them.

In the Gospel reading (Day Mass) we see three movements: Mary setting out to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaping for   joy and Mary's Magnificat which summarizes historical movements of God's mercy and compassion. The coming of the Son of God through Mary is also proclaimed.

At the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary we are invited to experience the "moving" presence of God in our lives. He moves us from one place to another, at times from our comfort zones; he surprises us with the unexpected; the unexpected could be the place "where God had prepared a place for us." God is the Lord of movement and change.

Movement or change is often not easy. A woman about to give birth in the first reading reminds us of the pain of childbirth in order to welcome a new life, like our total surrender to the will of God whatever it may be.

And this surrender to God's will, our fiat, is the key to our going home to the loving and saving power of God.

Mary's Magnificat acknowledges God's movements in Mary's life, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior!"

We believe that at Mary's death she was assumed body and soul into heaven because of her special role as Mother of God. May we, her children, be like her in seeing God's movements in our lives: How has God moved me in my life? What more could I do to dispose myself to see God's invitations  to me?  What more should I do to be brought to the place prepared for me  by my loving Father?

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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