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Gospel Reading for August 15, 2024 – Luke 1: 39-56
MAGNIFICENT
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said: “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. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
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Today, as we celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mary, we remember that she is the mother who gave birth to Jesus, Son of God, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger in Bethlehem, who had to flee with husband Joseph to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod’s killing rampage of boys 2 years old and below, and finally settled in Nazareth where she brought him up in God’s image and likeness, then set him free to start his Ministry, the reason for Jesus’ becoming man.
Those who disregard Mary as someone to be honoured perhaps do not realize the very important role she played in God’s plan of salvation. We are grateful to her because by her YES to the Father, she brought Jesus to us. We are grateful to her because despite obscurity in the Father’s will, she remained faithful to Jesus even after his death. Mary, is THE MOTHER who showed us what it is to be called by God, and how it is to respond to his call.
Her Magnificat was MAGNIFICENT because she was able to capture the greatness of God and his faithfulness to his people. It teaches us not to lose hope in the midst of so much challenge to the Faith in our present day; that no matter how long the wait from the time of Abraham to Jesus, God will NEVER ABANDON US because he is FAITHFUL!
Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the Queen of Heaven and earth. As you tasted the bitterness of pain and sorrow with your Son on earth, you now enjoy eternal bliss with Him in Heaven. Loving Queen, intercede for us in all our needs. Amen.
