Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of
Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth,
filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and
said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of
your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the
infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was
spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
And Mary said: "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 generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has
done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear
him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered
the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and
has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the
rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for
he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to
Abraham and his children for ever."
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
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Reflection:
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. This doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by
Pope Pius XII on November 1 1950.
The Blessed Mother, having completed the course of
her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. Her acceptance
into the glory of Heaven is a symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all
enduring Christians that we too will be received into paradise.
Do we have a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary? For example, by
regularly praying the Holy Rosary and by asking the Blessed Mother to pray and
intercede for us?
Even if she was also pregnant at that time the Blessed Mother visited her
cousin Elizabeth without considering her own wellbeing. She went to Elizabeth
in view of the fact that she wanted to comfort and strengthen her. That’s how
selfless and loving is the Blessed Mother.
Of course we also want to be visited, comforted and strengthened by the
Blessed Mother. But do we find time to pray to her and ask her to pray for us?
Do we regularly pray the Holy Rosary? Being the mother of Jesus she is the closest
to the heart of Jesus. Whatever she tells Jesus, He will obey for she is His
mother.
On this Solemnity of the Assumption
we are reminded by the Blessed Mother that it’s not only her cousin Elizabeth
that she wants to comfort and help. The Blessed Mother also wants to comfort,
strengthen and help us with whatever worries, struggles and problems that we
have. Brought about by this disruptive Covid-19 pandemic.
Let us therefore ask the Blessed Mother to pray and intercede for us during this difficult
times that we are in. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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