Today is Friday, August 15, 2014,...The Solemnity The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary... TODAYS READINGS ---------- + ------------- ...MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD... REVELATION 11: 19 19 Then Gods temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. REVELATION 12: 1 - 6, 10 1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;2 she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.3 And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads.4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth;5 she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. --------------- + ------------ + -------------- + ----------- + ----------- + --------------- PSALMS 45: 10 - 12, 16 10 Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your fathers house;11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him;12 the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts, the richest of the people 16 Instead of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. ------------ + ------------ + ------------ + ------------ + ----------- + ------------------- 1 CORINTHIANS 15: 20 - 27 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.27 For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, All things are put in subjection under him, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. ------------------- + ----------- + -------------- + ------------- + ---------- + ----------- GOSPEL Friday (August 15): My spirit rejoices in God my Savior Gospel: Luke 1:39-56 (alternate reading: Matthew 19:3-12) 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever. 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. Meditation on todays Gospel: How strong is your hope in the promises of God? Mary is a model of faith and hope for us. And she is among the first-fruits of all those who belong to Jesus and who share in his triumph (1 Corinthians15:20-24). There is a venerable tradition dating back to the early church which marks Marys falling asleep (called the Feast of Dormition in many Eastern churches) and her heavenly birthday when she was received into heaven. Her reception into heaven is seen as a sign to all believing Christians of the promise Jesus made that we too would be received into paradise. At the last supper Jesus told his disciples that he would prepare a place for them in his Fathers house. And when I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:3). The Holy Spirit makes faith come alive within us What enabled Mary to grow in faith and to persevere in hope in the face of obstacles and trials? The Gospel of Luke reveals the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in Marys life. When Elizabeth and Mary greeted one another they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of Gods promise to give a Savior. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the Anointed King in the womb of Mary. Those who are humble and hungry for God receive his Spirit The Holy Spirit is Gods gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Mary accepted her mission with uncompromising faith and obedience. She acted with unwavering trust and faith because she believed that God would fulfill the word he had spoken. Her great hymn of praise echoes the song of Hannah (see 1 Samuel 2:1-10) and proclaims the favor of the Lord: God exalts the lowly and he fills the hungry. The Holy Spirit fills us with the joy and hope of heaven The Holy Spirit is ever ready to renew your faith and hope in Gods promises and to make you strong in love for God and your neighbor. Do you live in the joy and confidence of Gods indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit? Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 07:00:24 +0000