Homily
for August 15, 2017
According
to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 966:
“Finally
the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the
course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into
heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she
might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror
of sin and death.”
The
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s
Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.
Unlike the
case of Elijah, Mary’s move into heaven is not vividly documented in the Bible
at least not directly. Nonetheless, our readings at Mass today give us helpful
clues as to what actually happened.
Mary is
that woman who is spoken of in the book of Revelation who gave birth to a child
against all odds. That child as St. Paul makes us understand is the New Adam.
The one who came to undo the mistake of the first Adam. In other words, Mary
was not an ordinary woman. She had a great purpose and mission.
Our Gospel
passage from Luke describes the meeting of two women; one pregnant even though
passed the age of child-bearing, the other pregnant even though she had never
known a man before. The lives of Elizabeth and Mary are proofs that there is no
such thing as IMPOSSIBILITY when it comes to God.
If God
could make a virgin pregnant, what is there in taking up a person body and soul
into heaven?
The words
of Elizabeth to Mary defines her uniqueness amongst everything that God ever
created. “Blessed are you among women.” No woman can ever be more popular than
Mary, no woman can ever rise to a more glorious position than Mary, and no
woman’s name will ever be mentioned on the lips of millions and millions of
generations upon generations to come like the name of Mary.
In
conclusion, what exactly is the significance of today’s feast for us? Our
opening prayer at mass gives us a good answer. It prays: “Grant we pray, that
always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers in
her (Mary’s) glory.
Colossians
3:1-2 says: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not
on things that are on earth. Never forget home. Set your mind above so that one
day, you may follow where Mary our Mother has gone
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, grant that through Mary’s intercession, I may one day come
over to join you in heaven. Amen
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of
the 19th week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelation 11:19-12:1-10.
1st Corinthians 15:20-27 and Luke 1:39-56).
No comments:
Post a Comment