Thursday, August 15, 2013 Assumption of Mary 1st Reading: Rev 11:19; 12:1-6,10 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 15:20-26
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
Mary set out for a town in the Hills 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 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 the lowly. (…)”
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE (Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Mary’s Assumption is an assurance that being human is not incompatible with heavenly destiny. If it were otherwise, the soul of Mary would have been denied access to heaven. The contrary happened, and more. She was assumed body and soul into heaven.
This is relevant to a permissive generation taking advantage of the wrong understanding of what it is to be human. The phrase “sapagka’t kami ay tao lamang” (because we’re only human) has become an easy getaway of violators of God’s laws. It is also a big insult to God who created people in his image and likeness.
When a man looks at his nature as an image of God, “sapagkat kami ay tao lamang” assumes a different meaning. The accent of “lamang” shifts to the last syllable giving the phrase this totally different meaning: “Because we are human we have the advantage” (sapagkat kami ay tao, lamang!) Saint Augustine said that if he should meet a man and an angel he would greet the man first. God did not only adopt human beings as his children but even became like them. He never did this to any angel.
Mary showcases the greatness of human beings. She became Mother of God the Son, Daughter of God the Father, and Spouse of God the Holy Spirit. Today she sits as Queen of Heaven and Earth. As we celebrate the feast of the Assumption, let us celebrate our identity as heirs of the kingdom of heaven. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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