First Reading Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a,10ab
The sign of God's salvation will be a woman clothed with the sun.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 45:10-12,16
The queen takes her place next to God.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Christ has redeemed Adam's sin.
Gospel Reading
Luke 1:39-56
Mary greets Elizabeth and sings God's praise.
Today's feast celebrates Mary's Assumption into heaven. It is one of three feasts of Mary that are Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics in the United States. January 1 is the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, and December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven has long been held as an important Catholic belief. The belief was not defined as dogma, however, until 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The dogma teaches that Mary, who was without sin, was taken, body and soul, into the glory of heaven.
The Gospel for this holy day recalls Mary's actions after the announcement of Jesus' birth by the Angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is also with child. Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles they and their unborn children will play in God's plan for salvation. Mary responds to Elizabeth's greeting with her song of praise, the Magnificat. Both women recall and echo God's history of showing favor upon the people of Israel. Mary's Magnificat, in particular, echoes the song of praise offered by Hannah, the mother of Samuel.
The Gospel for this day reminds us that Mary's Assumption into heaven is best understood with regard for the full spectrum of Catholic beliefs about the person of Christ and the person of Mary. Only Mary, who was born without stain of original sin—the Immaculate Conception—could give birth to Christ, who is fully God and fully human. This is called the Immaculate Conception. Because of Mary's role in God's plan of salvation, she does not suffer from the effects of sin, which are death and decay. Mary is the first to receive the fullness of the redemption that her son has won for all of humanity. The Church, therefore, recognizes Mary as the sign of the salvation promised to all.
Today's Gospel highlights Mary's faith. Mary's faith enabled her to recognize the work of God in her people's history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God's plan of salvation.
December 2 - First Sunday of Advent Year C
November 25 - Feast of Christ the King: His kingdom come!
November 18 - Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Life is short
November 11 - Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: To give thankfully
November 4 - Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time: What are your Priorities?
October 28 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: leaving behind the cloak in order to come closer to Christ
October 21 - Twenty Ninth Sunday in the Ordinary Time: Power
October 14 - Twenty Eighty Sunday in Ordinary Time: Riches
October 7 – Twenty seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Marriage and Divorce
September 30 – Twenty Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time: acknowledge the good others do
September 23 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Becoming the first to serve
September 16 - Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Where Sorrow is there is holy ground
September 9 - Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: The gift of receiving and the gift of transmitting
September 02 - Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Why we do? What we do??
August 26 - Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time : Do you want to quit?
August 19 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: To Become What We Receive
August 12 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Eucharist – A Foretaste of Heaven
August 5 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Food that lasts for ever
July 29 - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: To place in the hands of Jesus
July 22 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Work and Prayer
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