Sunday Reading Reflections:

August 15, 2010
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity and Holy Day of Obligation)

Reading 1 Reflection:

In this vision from the Book of Revelation, we are presented with a woman dressed like a queen with a crown of twelve stars. The stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel, the nation that gave birth to the Messiah. A wild red dragon (evil) tries to destroy the woman's newborn son (the Messiah). But God dramatically saves the child by "snatching him up" to heaven. Today the Church honors Mary, the mother of the Messiah. She was assumed, or taken up bodily, into heaven at her death. Truly God has taken her into "the special place" he had prepared for her from all eternity. Her rising is a "preview" of our own rising, body and soul, into eternal happiness with Jesus.

Reading 2 Reflection:

Christ is risen! He was the first to experience the joy of resurrection. But he is not the last. All of us will also rise from the dead. At the second coming, Jesus will "hand over the kingdom to God" and we will share in his final victory.

Mary did not have to wait for the end of time to rise from the dead. Now she waits to welcome each of us to our eternal home.

Gospel Reflection:

Wouldn't it be frustrating to have good news, yet no one to share it with? In the telling, good news gets even better, because a friend is responding to it. Luke tells us the beautiful story of Mary sharing with Elizabeth the news of her pregnancy. Elizabeth immediately recognizes that Mary is "the mother of my Lord" and she praises Mary's complete faith in God's word. Bursting with joy, Mary sings her victory song, the Magnificat: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord."