Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” July-August 2024
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (feast)
proper
Evening Mass of the Vigil
FIRST READING
From the first book of Chronicles (1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2)
In those days, David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. David gathered the sons of Aaron and the Levites. The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord. David told the leaders of the Levites to have their brothers, the singers with musical instruments, harps, lyres and cymbals, ready, so that by raising their voices they might make the sounds of joy heard. Thus they brought in the ark of God and placed it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; they offered burnt offerings and communion sacrifices before God. When he had finished offering the burnt offerings and communion sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord. –
The word of God.
Commentary on the first reading
The transport of the ark to the fortress of Zion determined Jerusalem’s destiny throughout all subsequent history. The importance of local sanctuaries gave way to the one central temple, located on the site the Lord had chosen, destined to become the point of reference for the Israelite tribes and all peoples. Where the ark is, the Lord makes himself present, and its transport to Zion makes the temple and the holy city the place on earth where he meets his devotees. The arrival of the ark is accompanied by a liturgical ceremony of national significance, with the presence of the Levites, ministers of worship, and the singers, animators of this special and joyful event. In the context of the liturgy of the feast of the Assumption, we can see in the ark a foreshadowing of Mary. Just as it contains within it the tablets of the Law, the Ten Commandments written on stone, so Mary welcomes the Word made flesh in her body. Furthermore, Jesus will reveal himself as the bridge between heaven and earth. The temple built not by human hands will be precisely him through his resurrection from the dead and his glorious body.
SECOND READING
From the first letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:54b-57)
Brothers and sisters, when this mortal body has clothed itself with immortality, the word of Scripture will be fulfilled: «Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?». The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! – The word of God.
Commentary on the second reading
Saint Paul sets aside the terms “resurrection” and “transfiguration” and uses expressions concerning being clothed with incorruptibility and immortality. These two glorious conditions of the human body have total victory over death in common. Therefore, the Apostle declares the end of death’s reign, which uses the sting of sin as its lethal weapon, to which we are all subject and which deprives us of the source of life. Through Christ, however, we have victory over the tyranny of death, conceived as a powerful general who seems invincible and unassailable. United with him through faith and love, we are certain of tomorrow’s triumph. The hope of resurrection is one of humanity’s great driving forces, preventing us from ever stopping in the liberating effort carried out by the most genuine revolutionary processes in history. But in the end the game will always be lost unless God intervenes by sending Jesus, the true liberator. For this reason Saint Paul concludes by referring not only to the definitive salvation of the risen and living human being, but also by praising God, the only true author of life that never ends.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 11:27-28)
At that time, while Jesus was speaking to the crowds, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him: «Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts that nursed you!». But he said: «Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!». – The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
Jesus Christ does not intend to reject the praise of his mother, offered with such spontaneity and enthusiasm by a woman, but invites us to consider things from a deeper point of view. Mary is truly blessed because she gave the perfect example of adherence and openness to God’s will. However, if we wish to apply the Gospel passage to the feast of the Assumption, we can say that the womb that welcomed and carried Jesus for nine months is now in divine glory, since it was not laid in the tomb to undergo corruption and decay. We can also imagine the breast that nursed her Son during the weaning period as the source of the milk of love poured down from heaven upon her children, born of faith and Baptism. One may also think of the countless images or statues of the Virgin Mary, seated with the child in her arms, and some showing her nursing the newborn Jesus. Finally, she above all is that human creature who welcomed the word of God; she is the Lord’s diligent handmaid, the one who meditated and was always ready to understand the words presented to her, even though at times they did not appear to be pleasant or desirable news.
Mass of the Day
FIRST READING
From the Book of Revelation of Saint John the Apostle (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab)
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and cried out in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems; its tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod, and her child was caught up to God and to his throne. The woman, meanwhile, fled into the desert, where God had prepared a refuge for her. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: «Now have come salvation and power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ». – The word of God.
Commentary on the first reading
«A great sign appeared in heaven». The term «sign» does not refer to a prodigy or an extraordinary spectacle to be admired; rather, it conceals a message to be understood. In the «woman», we glimpse both Mary and the Church, both called to give birth to and manifest Jesus, the powerful and universal king, opposed by demonic powers but unable to resist God’s plan. To give hope to Christian communities, the woman is seen as a heavenly figure, enveloped in divine light (the sun), not overcome by the passage of time (the moon beneath her feet), and already having reached the eschatological stage as a victorious queen (the crown of twelve stars). But our gaze also turns to life here below, where believers endure trials and suffering, helped by God through refuge in the desert. Mary, as woman and mother, is there with her children to share in their pain. The Church, far from earthly machinations, hidden by God while awaiting the fulfillment of salvation and marked by dramatic moments, is certain to attain the glory of heaven with Mary assumed into heaven.
SECOND READING
From the first letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:20-27a)
Brothers and sisters, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through one man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through one man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life. But each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has placed all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for he has subjected everything under his feet. – The word of God.
Commentary on the second reading
«Through one man came death». This individual is Adam, the progenitor of us, his children, expelled from the earthly paradise and exposed to an existence marked by evil. In our earthly life, we may encounter countless situations that cause us obstacles and misfortunes, but certainly we are not able to overcome the last enemy, death, by which we are inexorably overcome. It shows no regard for anyone, and no doctor can intervene with scientific expertise to prevent it from dragging its prey into the tomb. Thus human creatures find themselves subject to slavery throughout their lives. But now another man has appeared, the Son of a woman, the Virgin Mary, through whom «the resurrection of the dead will come». For this reason Jesus, having defeated death in himself, begins to wage a struggle against the opposing powers, so that at the moment of his return those who are united with him may rise from their tombs. Mary, spared the corruption of the body, has already conquered with her Son, as a sign of hope for us all.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:39-56)
In those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: «Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled». Then Mary said: «My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; his mercy is from age to age for those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever». Mary remained with her about three months and then returned home. – The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
«The Almighty has done great things for me»: aware of her own smallness, Mary knows how to recognize God’s wonders; she knows how to acknowledge the divine gaze that, resting upon her, noticed «the lowliness of his servant». It was upon this lowliness that God acted, so that the Word of God made flesh might be born from her. Thus she can proclaim her Canticle and burst into sincere praise flowing from her innermost being. The Virgin’s soul cannot contain such joy, which spontaneously pours from her lips to reach heaven, from which every grace comes. The Virgin is blessed because the Holy Spirit envelops her body and heart, making her full of grace; she was chosen as the mother of the Messiah; she believed the angel’s words; she is Virgin and Mother together; she is blessed among all women; she shared at the foot of the cross in the saving work of her Son; blessed because she was assumed into heaven and made queen. Thus all believers who become part of the Church will discover her and direct their prayers to her.
