The Assumption
Sunday
August 15
Eccl.1:2,2:21-13; Ps.89:3-6,12-14,17;
Col.3:1-5,9-11; Lk 12:13-21
The Assumption, or as some would have it Mary's heavenly birthday, is the stuff that daydreams and fairy tales are made of. The highly symbolic reading from Apocalypse about the dragon and the new-born child would not be out of place in the writings of Tolkien, and immediately grabs the attention of the fantasist and romantic in us.
The beautiful love song that is the Responsorial Psalm continues the theme.
The author of the Apocalypse’s intended audience was a people under constant threat concerning their mortal lives and freedoms. However the church of the 21st century is also under steady attack and many Christians are ill at ease when openly acknowledging or discussing their faith (more so I feel in the case of Catholics).
Mary's assumption is said to have been a divine gift to her as the 'Mother of God'. Ludwig Ott's* view is that, as Mary completed her life as a shining example to the human race, the perspective of the gift of assumption is offered to the whole human race. This is indeed to be acknowledged with awe and wonder.
Paul goes a step further when talking about the gift of eternal life and states that ‘ALL --- will be brought to life in Christ’. This is not a new idea for us but it makes one wonder why we cannot convince others of our philosophy. Where are we so obviously going wrong?
After these fantastical and other worldly thoughts the gospel passage lands us back into the mundane concerns of a teenage girl travelling to visit her cousin. The great courage and fortitude displayed through this journey and indeed Mary’s entire life is often overlooked. Luke’s narrative makes evident the great faith of Elizabeth and her honouring of Mary as ‘the mother of my Lord’ and Mary then responds with her great hymn of praise, The Magnificat.
*Ludwig Ott ( 1906 - 1985 ) was a Catholic theologian and Medievalist from Bavaria.
Judith Croke, Mona Vale |
