Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Vigil
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 1: 39-56
August 15, 2023 | Tuesday
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 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 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 for about three months and then returned home.
Today’s Reflection:
The mystery of the Assumption of Mary simply asserts to us the truth of Christian hope’s fulfillment. The assumption of Mary is God’s way of showing us that He values the flesh of Mary which was prepared to be the source of the humanity of the Son of God. How can God forget the locus of humanity’s hope in her flesh? God has to take her to Himself so that the flesh that gave us the Man-God will eventually be the representation of every man and woman in heaven as the first beneficiary of the incarnation. Mary’s assumption of heaven is hope to us because she is the human representative par excellence of our future hope. /Vulnerasti, 2023
