Gospel reflection: Sing with Mary!

Luke’s Gospel today (for Mass during the day) beckons us to follow Mary as she eagerly sets out to the beautiful hill country of Judea in service of her cousin Elizabeth. Expectant mothers, both women are filled with the Holy Spirit as they engage in a dialogue of faith that reflects their joy and readiness to serve God’s plan of salvation for the world. Mary’s Magnificat reveals her deep, prayerful understanding of God’s long-awaited promise that is now being fulfilled, to restore all the descendants of Abraham to harmony with God.

So freely and totally did Mary respond to God’s grace throughout her life, that in death she was divinely honored. In declaring the dogma of the Assumption, the Church proclaims and celebrates that in Mary there was no obstacle to deny her immediate passing through death and becoming the first after her Son to be raised body and soul to fullness of life with God.

Today’s feast of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the summit of her journey as God’s most humble and faithful servant. As we reflect on this joyful feast, we realize that she is teaching us to sing the Magnificat with her to the world. We, too, are invited to proclaim in joy and humble service the compassion and justice of God. Like Mary, in serving the reign of God, we, too, will one day share in her destiny.

  — Fr. Michael Traher, SFM

Readings:

Vigil Mass: 

1 Chronicles 15:3–4, 15–16; 16:1–2

Psalm 132:6–7, 9–10, 13–14

1 Corinthians 15:54B–57

Luke 11:27–28

Mass during the day: 

Revelation 11:19A; 12:1–6A, 10AB

Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16

1 Corinthians 15:20–27

Luke 1:39–56