As we celebrate Mama Mary’s Assumption into heaven, the WORD today reminds me reminds me how God loves to lift up the humble.
Humility is not thinking of less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.
God loves each and every one of us. All of us are fearfully and wonderfully made - into the image and likeness of God. This is why there is no reason for us to think less of ourselves. There is no reason to look down on ourselves. However, we are called to be humble - to think of ourselves less, to think of our desires and comfort less, and think of others, and most especially God more.
Mary did not have it easy. From the start, she made a bold leap of faith. She surrendered to God even if saying yes to be the mother of Jesus was not going to be easy. This showed her humility - dying of herself and stepping out of her comfort zone as she served God, as she surrendered to God. In the gospel we see her serving Elizabeth despite her situation. Even if Mary was pregnant, she travelled to serve Elizabeth. She focused on serving others, not on her own needs and concerns. Despite being the earthly mother of the Son of God, she served her. That is real humility.
God loves to use the humble.
In the first and second readings, as well as psalms, we saw how great Mama Mary was. We see the power and greatness of Jesus that she brought to this world. We see her greatness as well. God loves to use humble people - people who put God first and submit to his perfect will for us.
Like what he has for Mama Mary, God has great plans for us. God will use us mightily - no matter how simple we may see ourselves, no matter how normal we think we are. God does not need great qualifications to use us. God does not need tons of accomplishments for him to do great things through us. All he needs is what Mama Mary has - a pure and humble heart ready to die of ourselves, our needs and desires, ready to serve and love him.
Do I know that God has great plans for me? Do I believe it? Do I trust Him? What is my attitude towards God? Do I focus on Him and on serving him through others, or do I focus on my own concerns and needs? How can I be more humble as I live and serve God?
May we never look down on ourselves, but always strive to think of and serve God through others.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your power. Thank you for reminding me how great and loving you are. Lord, sorry for the times I focus on the wrong things. Sorry for thinking too much of myself. Sorry for loving myself more than I love you. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Lord, I pray that I may have a heart like Mama Mary. May i not work to have worldly qualifications and achievements, but heavenly ones. May I be ready to die of my own wants and desires, and be willing to step out of my comfort zone as I serve you. I know it will not be easy but it will be worth it, and that you will do great things through me. As I humble myself, I know you will make me great in your eyes. As I humble myself, may you be exalted and glorified. Mama Mary, in a special way, ai lift up our country and the world. Help us get through this. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
August 15, 2020
Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
FIRST READING
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.”
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.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
SECOND READING
Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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 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, 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 for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
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, 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 for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
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