“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:45
On the Feast of the Assumption, I can’t help but think about Mary’s courage in becoming the mother of God. Did she know that God was asking her to play a unique role in human history—one with moments of joy but also pain and sorrow? Did she ever consider saying “no” to the angel Gabriel?
So many times we find ourselves just as alone as Mary must have felt. Her circumstance was certainly startling: a betrothed young woman about to have a child that would become the Savior of the world. The challenges in our own lives can fill us with doubts, too. But Mary said, “Thy will be done.” Her trust in God changed the world.
Each time we trust in God, we have the potential to change the world, too—in expected and unexpected ways. We know that God is always with us. There is nothing to fear.
Just as Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul, we can have hope that God will raise us up through our daily challenges. We have God’s promise that we are supported in our mission lives with the same hope that gave Mary her strength—and her reward.
Celebrating the feast of the Assumption is a celebration of hope… hope that we will also share in a physical resurrection one day… and that Mary is our intermediary before her Son until the day we are united with him and all the saints of heaven.
Friend, the prayer that Mary recites, praising God, is inspirational for me and I hope for you: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” Be comforted, be confident, that Mary is praying for you in the company of her Son. That is the gift of today’s great feast day.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.
Reflection for 3rd Sunday
The Assumption of Mary
Rise up in splendor and glory
O most blessed Virgin Mary
Mother of our Savior and
Mother of the Church!
Living tabernacle of the Most High
and sanctuary of the Word Incarnate
Your flesh gave flesh to Jesus
as You gave Your Son to the world.
You Who now dwell in the fullness of grace
with the fullness of Your humanity
look upon our lowliness and need and
make our poverty known to Your Son.
Inspire us with Your strength and humility
to do whatever he tells us to turn our hearts
to God and our minds to truth and justice
on earth as they are in heaven.
O fairest daughter of Israel
teach us to walk in the ways of your Son
that we too might search and find him
among the wise and the righteous
and help us when our time comes
to stand at the foot of the Cross
in witness to God’s love for us
and thus make Your Yes to God our own.
Amen
Prayer by, Father Joseph Veneroso M.M.
