HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
THEME: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR MONDAY AUGUST 15 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10
Corinthians 15:20-26
Luke 1:39-56
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate in a special way the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
*WHAT IS THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ?*
The Assumption of Mary is the moment when Mary was taken up body and soul into Heaven, as she came to the end of her existence here in this world, and went to be reunited with her beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Church has always held the belief and tradition that Mary, by God’s grace, did not suffer the lasting effect of death, and while she did die, but her Son took her up very soon after into His Presence in Heaven.
*FROM THE FIRST READING*
Today’s first reading from the Book of Revelation, we have this great conflict between the woman and the dragon. We tend to interpret the woman there as Mary, and with good reason. She is referred to in the reading as the woman who brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations. We cannot but think of Jesus’ birth from Mary. Yet, many of the symbols in the Book of Revelation have more than one meaning and the woman in that text is also a symbol of the church.
*FROM THE SECOND READING*
St. Paul in todays second reading St reminds us that, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order.
*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
Today’s gospel reading tells the story of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Luke describes a visit that left both the visitor, Mary, and the one visited, Elizabeth, greatly blessed. As a result of Mary’s visit, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Because of the way Elizabeth received Mary’s visit, Mary herself was filled with the Spirit of prayer and praise that found expression in her great prayer, the Magnificat.
*WHAT DOES THIS FEAST TEACHES US TODAY?*
The feast of today dear brethrens is not only about Mary. It is also about ourselves. What Mary has become, we hope to be. The great things that God has done for Mary is a pointer to the great things that God wants to do for all of us. We believe that God will raise us too, body and soul, to new life after our own death.
*CONCLUSION*
May the almighty God empower each one of us to live ever more faithfully and with greater conviction and commitment from now on, following the examples of Mary, the Blessed Mother of God, who we remember of today in her glorious Assumption into Heaven. Holy Mary, Mother of God, gloriously assumed and taken up to Heaven, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA