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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults - Daily Bible Readings August 15,2013



1ST READING
 
The declaration of the Assumption of Mary came, at least partially, as a result of a petition signed by bishops, priests and lay people that asked the Pope to teach dogmatically that Mary was assumed into heaven on her death. This is part of the work of what the Church calls the Sensus Fidelium, or the “sense of the faithful,” which provides the means for the lay faithful to speak into the making of Church Doctrine.
 
Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
19 God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. 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. 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. 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 One.”
 
P S A L M
Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16
R: The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
9 [10] The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir. (R) 10 [11] Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. (R) 11 [12] So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your Lord. (R) 15 [16] They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. (R)
 
2ND READING
 
Mary’s assumption into heaven is something we all long for. None of us will receive this gift in quite the way Mary has — we will “wait” for the Day of Judgment first — but it is an essential part of our faith journey. The reason we believe why Mary received this gift immediately on her death is her lack of sin and the appropriateness of it, given that she is the Mother of Jesus.
 
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
20 Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. 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.”
 
GOSPEL
 
Mary plays a special role in the work of salvation. I do not need to go into details here, other than to encourage us to reflect upon her obedience as the essence of her call. In the Gospel narratives, Jesus often reminds us that it is those who do the will of God (are obedient to His call) who are His mother, brothers and sisters.
 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
 
Luke 1:39-56
39 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, “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 with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: 49 the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. 50 He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 51 He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. 52 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, 55 the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” 56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
 
think: Mary’s assumption into heaven is something we all long for.
 
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
 
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 1-4

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