August 15 - the Assumption of Mary

August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, celebrating the belief that Mary was taken up into Heaven body and soul, after she died. Mary was preserved from sin by the power of God and then became the earthly mother of Jesus. In a sense, she is the spiritual mother of us all. She said “Yes” when the angel Gabriel asked her to bear a child. She raised Jesus from a baby to a young man. Mary took Jesus to the Temple, as was the custom for Jewish people. Mary and Joseph must have missed a few heartbeats when Jesus got lost at the Temple, three days walk from their hometown of Nazareth. Mary’s heart must have danced with joy when Jesus turned water into wine at the Wedding Feast at Cana. Mary would have felt the cold dark cloud of grief as she saw her son dying on the cross. There is no record of this in the Gospels but I’m sure that Mary would have been overwhelmed with happiness when she met Jesus again after the resurrection. 

Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a life of great happiness and incredible sadness, but was able to serve God with joy for her entire life. 

Prayer:

Lord, may we, like Mary the mother of Jesus become faithful disciples and witnesses to the life-giving power of your death and resurrection.

Amen