Saint John Paul II said that the Blessed Mother’s birth into heaven generates in us “an ever new capacity to await God’s future.” Another Marian scholar said, “Mary lifted herself up to such lofty heights of heaven that the Word reached down from the highest pinnacle of heaven and took her in.” (A. Autpert)
THE BOOK OF REVELATION DESCRIBES “THE WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN”
God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Anointed One.” Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
MARY’S RESPONSE TO THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE THAT HER COUSIN ELIZABETH MAY NEED HELP WITH HER UNBORN CHILD
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,
“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 replied:
“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, and 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 forever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Reflection:
“HOWEVER DARK THE SHADOWS THAT SOMETIMES GATHER ON THE HORIZON AND HOWEVER INCOMPREHENSIBLE CERTAIN EVENTS MAY APPEAR TO BE IN HUNMAN HISTORY WE MUST NEVER LOSE TRUST AND PEACE. oUR lADY’S ASSUMPTION INVITES US TO ENTRUST OURSELVES TO mARY ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN WHO, LIKE A SHINING STAR FROM HEAVEN, DIRECTS OUR DAILY JOURNEY ON EARTH.” (ST. JOHN PAUL II)
“The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.” – Ps. 45
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
Alleluia, alleluia.
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