The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, During the Day

Title

The Sign in Heaven Takes Place on Earth

Outline

It is reported that when my name was brought up to then-monsignor Lopes for ordination and the position of director of the (then non-existent) house of studies, my impediment of not bringing a congregation with me was also brought up. Monsignor Lopes replied, “There can be exceptions.”

The Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Theotokos, is filled with exceptions, not because she earned them, but because God made her exceptional.

The Revelation reading was my first introduction to the Holy Mother as Holy Mother

On the one hand, she is wearing the livery of Joseph’s dreams, she is the embodiment of Israel, giving birth to a male child, surely Jesus in John’s context - that dawned on me as a Protestant

On the other hand, she is the contrast to Domitian’s empress, with Twelve rather than 7 stars, with a child who we know died and was caught up to heaven, but not as an infant and not by deification of the Roman Senate, but as a resurrected adult before witnesses who will (Ps 2) really rule.

On the one hand, she is herself protected from the dragon, the image of Rome (Rev 17) by being taken to a place prepared by God, where she is safe since the dragon’s flood cannot reach her.

On the other hand, she has other children that the dragon is very much persecuting, , although they too are to some degree protected - but Mary is still an exception

Here the great themes of the Nativity and Assumption - in less developed, but fully authoritative, form - are laid out after the Queenship of Mary - I taught this, although I did not personally appropriate it

I did realize that the Church, her children, was subject to persecution and defeats the dragon by death and martyrdom

Paul adds that the resurrection is the core of the Christian message

There is a proper order: Christ, those who are Christ’s at his coming, and finally the end of death itself when Christ has ruled until he “has put all his enemies under his feet”

But does that not put Mary in the second group, “Those who are Christ’s at his coming?”

Ah, yes, but there were exceptions before Christ, and Mary is an exception after Christ.

Would Jesus let anyone doubt his love for his mother by leaving her in the grave until he returned?

Finally, there are Elizabeth’s and Mary’s words, which are exceptional indeed

Elizabeth sees her pregnant relative, a peasant girl, and says, “the mother of my Lord.” How exceptional is that?

Mary paraphrases the Song of Hannah and states that everything that happened to her was an exception, a miracle of God: God is her savior who has displayed his greatness, not hers.

She speaks of herself in terms of lowliness, of receiving mercy, of being hungry

She is more impressed with what God has done in her for Israel - it is Israel that had the promises

And to underline the exception she sees the rich and the full tossed down and rejected.

Nothing, it seems, in her life was “normal” although in an outward sense everything was “normal” between the birth of Jesus and his entry into ministry.

Today we celebrate the Dormition and the Assumption

The east focuses on the good death, the receiving of her soul, without denying the assumption

The west focuses on the assumption, she she was taken body and soul into the presence of God, without denying the dormition

In both East and West the story gets encrusted with pious legend that sometimes gets in the way of the main point: she is an exception. The woman who in scripture had unknown and peasant ancestors becomes the Mother of the King, the King who is also God.

The Assumption simply seals this exception. If it is true that the King rose from the dead as the firstfruits, is it not likely that he would raise his mother as a type of human firstfruit and bring her to his presence? If it is true that the peasant Jesus, the technos, has been revealed as the exalted Lord, is it not fitting that his mother, who lived as a client of more important patrons would in her assumption become the patron of patrons for even the most important humans?

When we speak of the assumption we are not speaking of a text in scripture - there is none - but of the wonder and the implications of many texts in scripture. And that makes all she is an exception.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 8-15-2021: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, During the Day

FIRST READING

Revelation 11:19a, 12:1–6a, 10ab

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm.

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. 2 She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.

10 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.

For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,

who accuses them before our God day and night.

Response

Psalm 45:10bc

10 Daughters of kings are your lovely wives;

a princess arrayed in Ophir’s gold

comes to stand at your right hand.

Psalm

Psalm 45:10–12, 16

10 Daughters of kings are your lovely wives;

a princess arrayed in Ophir’s gold

comes to stand at your right hand.

11 Listen, my daughter, and understand;

pay me careful heed.

Forget your people and your father’s house,

12 that the king might desire your beauty.

He is your lord;

16 They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim;

they enter the palace of the king.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-15-2021: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, During the Day

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 15:20–27

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, 23 but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; 24 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. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death, 27 for “he subjected everything under his feet.” But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the one who subjected everything to him.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-15-2021: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, During the Day

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Text

GOSPEL

Luke 1:39–56

39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

46 And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;

behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 His mercy is from age to age

to those who fear him.

51 He has shown might with his arm,

dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones

but lifted up the lowly.

53 The hungry he has filled with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped Israel his servant,

remembering his mercy,

55 according to his promise to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009).Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 8-15-2021: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, During the Day

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021 | SOLEMNITY

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

DURING THE DAY

YEARS ABC | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Revelation 11:19a, 12:1–6a, 10ab

Response Psalm 45:10bc

Psalm Psalm 45:10–12, 16

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:20–27

Gospel Acclamation Text

Gospel Luke 1:39–56

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