Christ’s love knows no bounds and, through Him, neither does His Mother’s
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Mass During the Day] (August 15, 2018): RV 11:19, 12:1-6,10; PS 45 19,11,16; 1 COR 15:20-27; LK 1:39-56
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The beautiful Gospel reading for this feast of the Assumption reveals her complete belief in God and her humble dependence on Him.
“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 generation will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is His Name” (Luke 1:46-49). The immediate taking of Mary, both body and soul, into heaven is one those great things He has done to single out this exceptional woman.
It took the Catholic Church almost two thousand years to declare the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be accepted dogma. But people around the world, especially in the east, have accepted this doctrine far longer. The love of Christ for His mother seems reason enough to grant this great privilege. The Son of God, “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,” as we state in the Apostles’ Creed, surely wanted to honor her. And as both God and man, just as surely, He wanted to hold her in His arms, as she had held Him, as the beginning and the end of His life on earth. And just as surely, Mary continues to serve God by caring for all of us from her heavenly home.
Suggested missionary action: We can express our love for Mary and her Son by offering a World Mission Rosary today. And we can meditate on the needs of God’s children – Mary’s children – on every continent.
