Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": Assumption

August 15, 2014: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings

Vigil

1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 David assembled Israel to bring the ark of the Lord to the place prepared for it. He had chanters appointed to make loud sounds of rejoicing. They brought the ark in, made offerings to God, then David blessed the people in God's name.

Ps 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14 "Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness." Enter his dwelling and worship, clothed with justice....

1 Cor 15:54b-57 When the mortal is clothed with immortality, the word shall come about: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Christ.

Lk 11:27-28 A woman from the crowd / Jesus: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts that nursed you.” / “Rather, blessed are those who hear and keep God's word.”

Daytime

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab Signs: ark, sun-clothed stars-crowned woman, moon under feet, with child, wailing, laboring; 7-headed 10-horned dragon with diadems; tail hurled stars; stood before woman to devour child. Bore son, destined to rule, caught up to God. “Salvation, power, God's Kingdom, Anointed's authority have come.”

Ps 45:10-12, 16 "The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold."

1 Cor 15:20-27 Death and resurrection both came through man. As in Adam all die, in Christ all shall be brought to life. He must reign till he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last one to be destroyed is death.

Lk 1:39-56 Mary traveled to Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard her greeting, the infant leaped, and Elizabeth cried, “Blessed are you and the fruit of your womb. The infant leaped. Blessed are you who believed what the Lord told you would be fulfilled.” Mary: “Magnificat: I proclaim God's greatness. All will call me blessed: God has done great things; holy his name. He has mercy, has shown strength, scattered the proud, cast down the mighty, lifted up the lowly, filled the hungry, sent away the rich, helped Israel, and remembered his promise of mercy.”

Pope Francis

To young Koreans: Just as the Lord made his glory shine in the martyrs, so too he wants to make it shine in and through you. Christ is calling you to be alert, see what matters, and invite others to welcome him. God wants, like you do, a world of peace and friendship. The Church is meant to be a seed of unity for the human family, a unity that acknowledges, reconciles, and enriches diversity. Seeds of goodness and hope are often choked by weeds of selfishness, hostility, and injustice around and within us: the rich/poor gap; idolatry of wealth, power and pleasure; spiritual poverty, loneliness and despair. Bear witness to the Gospel of hope and the promise of Christ's Kingdom. The Kingdom comes and grows quietly wherever it's welcomed. The Spirit can bring new life to everyone and transform every situation. Share this message at school and work and in your families and communities. Jesus has the words of eternal life that can touch every heart, conquer evil, and redeem the world. The Lord is counting on you! He entered your hearts, gave you his Spirit, and strengthens you, so you can be his witnesses. Are you ready to say “yes”?

Mary's Assumption

Homily: Mary's Assumption into heaven shows our destiny as God’s children: to share in the Lord’s victory over sin and death and to reign with him. The sign of the woman clothed in the sun invites us to contemplate Mary enthroned beside her Son and to acknowledge the future the Lord is opening before us. Paul tells us Christ's obedience to the Father inaugurated the reign of life and freedom. True freedom is found in embracing the Father’s will. From Mary we learn Christian freedom is more than liberation from sin; it's freedom for a new way of seeing reality, freedom to love God and others and to live in hope for the coming of the Kingdom. We ask Mary, Mother of the Church in Korea, to help us to be faithful to the freedom we received at our Baptism, to guide our efforts to transform the world, and to enable the Church to be a leaven of his Kingdom. May we renew every level of society and combat materialism, unbridled competition, inhumane economic models, and the culture of death. Cherishing and transmitting your noble tradition demands a renewed conversion to the word of God and a passionate concern for the poor, needy and vulnerable.

Mary is our Mother of Hope. Her song of praise reminds us God remembers his promise of mercy. She's blessed because she believed what God told her would be fulfilled. She shows us our hope is real, a steadfast anchor to where Jesus is seated in glory. This hope is the antidote to the despair that grows in outwardly affluent societies that experience inner sadness and emptiness. Mary, help us rejoice in the freedom of God's children and use it to serve others, and to live and work as signs of hope to be fulfilled in the Kingdom where to reign is to serve.

Music

Then shall be brought to pass; O death, where is thy sting; But thanks be to God, from Messiah Part III/ Handel (2nd reading v*)

Since by man came death, from Messiah Part III/ Handel (2nd reading d*)

Holy is his name (gospel d), with lyrics (note good but seldom sung v. 2), music to buy

Ave Maria/ Schubert (gospel d)

Hail, holy Queen/ Hermannus Contraecus, Sister Act version (we've done it like this) (Wikipedia re Salve Regina)

Immaculate Mary/Lourdes Hymn/ Gaignet, Cummings, Foley: French audio and lyrics, more French verses

Up, up, and away (I've resisted playing this at Mass :-)

*v: vigil readings; d: daytime readings

Reflections

Creighton: “The immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all, that she might be more fully conformed to her son, the Lord of lords, and conqueror of sin and death” (Lumen Gentium 59). God triumphed over evil and death through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Mary unconditionally said yes to and praised God who favors the weak and the poor and fulfills his promises. Each of us is also offered gifts, opportunities, and grace; may we say yes too so God may do great things for and through us.

Thank you, Fr. Peter

One Bread One Body: This and other Marian feasts are primarily about Jesus and secondarily about Mary. Elizabeth called Mary's baby "Lord." Mary is visiting us with Jesus, bringing us to him. We proclaim God's greatness and finding joy in our Savior. Mary call us to do whatever Jesus tells us (Jn 2:5).

Passionist: Revelation presents a vision of God's temple, the Ark of the Covenant at the center, reminding us the Church is rooted in the Old Testament. The woman (Mary/Church?) bearing a son (Jesus) was victorious over the dragon (Satan). The voice from heaven harks to the Jordan where the Father gave Jesus his mission and to the mountain of the Transfiguration where the Father approves Jesus' life's work. This voice declares final victory. May we thank God and accept the victory as ours.

DailyScripture.net: Mary, model of faith and hope, is among the first-fruits of those who belong to Jesus and share in his triumph. Her reception into heaven is a sign of Jesus' promise that we'll also be received. Jesus told his disciples he'd prepare a place for them (Jn 14:3). When Elizabeth and Mary met, they were filled with the Holy Spirit who quickened their faith...

Universalis: The commemoration of the death of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Eastern Catholics call it her Dormition, or falling asleep) is known as the Assumption because of the tradition that her body didn't decay but was raised up. The tradition was present in the 6th century and was widespread by the start of the 20th; see Catholic Encyclopedia.