19th Week of Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 8-15-23, Year A
Readings: First Reading Rv. 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab Ps 45; Second Reading 1 Cor 15:20-27; Gospel Lk 1:39-56
Solemnity: Assumption of the BVM
Theme: A Mother’s Love
Motherhood is a vocation of love.
When we were wrongly accused or unfairly treated, she advocated on our behalf to our fathers, our schools, and sometimes our local authorities.
When we got stuck and could not figure things out, or were in need of any type of assistance, our mother would help us find our way through her leadership and counsel.
When we needed to know that we have a place in this life but cannot see the gifts we needed to get there, our mother was our benefactor, being able to share with us her graces from God to lift us up in hope and love and show us the way.
When we got in trouble or did not feel we were living up to our expectations, our mother would intercede on our behalf to our father, school, or others to ask for leniency, for help or support that would then bring us back to a better place.
All these things a mother does for her children.
On such a day as today, when we celebrate the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary, we can draw on these parallels between her and our own earthly mothers.
Vatican II repeats the titles of Mary that have been celebrated since the fifth century, that she is an Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.
She advocates on our behalf, defending us from evil and garnishing us justice through her role as our heavenly mother, given to us by her son Jesus upon the cross.
She helps us by untying the knots in our lives, by giving us grace through her love, to untangle our troubles and give us hope.
She is a benefactor of God’s graces as the Theotokos, Mother of God, and thus shares in this office to give us special graces to live a pious and saintly life.
She is a mediatrix, in a way that comes through her Son Jesus as the one and only mediator between us and God the Father, by helping to intercede on our behalf as a mother who looks after her children.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states this about Mary’s Assumption and intercession, “Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation.” CCC-969
As any mother would do, Mary leads us to salvation and shows us the way to heaven by her assumption in body and soul into heaven. Her assumption takes its place next to Jesus’s resurrection and ascension and fosters in us the example of our own resurrection into heaven one day. Mary could not ascend herself into heaven as Jesus did, but rather, she was assumed into heaven by her Son, Jesus, and the heavenly hosts. Mary shows us the way that on our day of resurrection we too, if we live a life of faith, will be assumed into heaven.
We read the great Magnificat of Mary in Luke’s Gospel this morning. Mary speaks of the greatness of God and the favors He bestows on her. Luke uses Mary in this prayer as the most outstanding member of all of God’s children. She is the representative “servant” for all of us in this passage. If you replace “me” with “us” and “my” with “our” in this canticle, you will see the meaning of this canticle as God’s gifts to all of us.
Believe in Mary as the Mother of God, who was assumed into heaven in body and soul, who sits at her Son’s right side as Queen of Heaven and Earth, and who intercedes on our behalf to Jesus. Let her be your advocate, helper, benefactor, and mediatrix and she will help lead you to your resurrection and a life in heaven with God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit forever.
Saint James Catholic Church 