Daily Readings, August 15, 2012, Mass During The Day

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
Lectionary: 622

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God.  On this day, we celebrate her being taken into heaven body and soul.

This Mass will be celebrated on Aug 15, during the day.  Probably between 8am and noon.

Reading 1 

Rv 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10Ab

God's temple in heaven was opened,and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

This is Rev 11:19.  St. John has seen the Ark of the Covenant in a vision of heaven.  The very next verse is Rev 12:1.

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.

This is the reason why Mary is called the New Ark of the Covenant.  Because she carried Jesus, the Word of God in her womb.  

She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.

It is Catholic doctrine that Mary experienced no pain in child birth.  So, what is this about?  This is about the pain that Mary experienced when the Church was born out of Jesus' side in the Crucifixion.

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 skyand hurled them down to the earth.

The dragon, of course, is Satan.  And he is rebelling because God is born of a woman.

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 child is, of course, Jesus, the Son of God and He goes to sit on His throne at the right hand of the Father.

The woman herself fled into the desertwhere she had a place prepared by God.

This, in my opinion, is about the time when Mary and Joseph fled into Egypt to safeguard Jesus from Herod.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:"Now have salvation and power come,and the Kingdom of our Godand the authority of his Anointed One."

This, I believe, is St. John recounting what he felt when God the Father said,

Matthew 17:5King James Version (KJV)⁵ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

He was one of the three present on that occasion on Mt. Tabor.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16

R. (10bc) 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.

This is a beautiful Psalm in reference to Bathsheba, seated at the right hand of Solomon and spiritually in reference to Our Lady seated at the right hand of Christ:

Revelation 12:1
King James Version (KJV)12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

Reading 2 1 Cor 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters:Christ has been raised from the dead,the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

First fruits here is a reference to the Festival of First Fruits which coincidentally, was being celebrated on the First day of the week after Passover.  That is, on Easter Sunday.

Jesus Christ rose first.  Then the other righteous dead.  But Jesus Christ rose first on the Feast of First Fruits.

For since death came through man,

Death of the soul came through Adam.  Adam and Eve committed the first Mortal Sin.

the resurrection of the dead came also through man.

The resurrection of the dead came through Jesus Christ.  Adam and Eve also will be resurrected at that time.

For just as in Adam all die,so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,

All who sin in similitude of the sin of Adam, will die.  But those who repent of their sin will live in Christ.

but each one in proper order:Christ the firstfruits;then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;then comes the end,

Christ has risen first.  Then, when He comes, all those who obey Him:

Hebrews 5:9
King James Version (KJV)
⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,when he has destroyed every sovereigntyand every authority and power.

At that time, Christ will destroy all other authority and power and hand the Kingdom over to His Father in Heaven.

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."

For Christ will reign until everyone is subject to Him.

Gospel Lk 1:39-56

Mary set outand traveled to the hill country in hasteto a town of Judah,where she entered the house of Zechariahand greeted Elizabeth.

The Angel Gabriel has just informed Mary that she will be the Mother of the Son of the Most High and that her cousin Elizabeth, who has not had any children and is old in years, is about to have a baby.  So, Mary sets out to see her and stay with her until her child is born.

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 believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lordwould be fulfilled." 

When Elizabeth hears Mary at the door, two things happen:
1.  The infant, St. John the Baptist is justified by the Holy Spirit.  St. John was born without Original Sin and thus fortified for his mission to prepare the way of the Lord.

2.  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and thus inspired by Him to declare that Mary is the Mother of God.

And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;my spirit rejoices in God my Saviorfor he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessed:

Then Mary prophesied that, because of her faithfulness, all generations would call her blessed.

the Almighty has done great things for me

She also prophesied that God had given her many graces which would not be revealed until later in history.

and holy is his Name.He has mercy on those who fear himin 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 Israelfor he has remembered his promise of mercy,the promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children forever."

And then she proclaimed His goodness, power and love to all the people.

Mary remained with her about three monthsand then returned to her home.

And Mary remained with Zechariah and Elizabeth until St. John was born then she returned to her own house.

Sincerely,

De Maria