The Ark of God

Greetings on this the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Psalm 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57; Luke 11:27-28

Summary

They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent
which David had pitched for it.
Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord (1 Chr 16:1-2).

Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness (Ps 132:8).

Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
(1 Cor 15:54c-55)

Ark of the New Covenant (Mary)

While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied,
“Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Lk 11:27-28)

Reflection

Jesus does not diminish his mother’s blessedness; he reveals its deepest source: she heard the Word of God and observed it.

The Assumption of the Blessed Mother was widely held from antiquity and formally defined as dogma on November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII. We should take comfort that the Lord is with us in life, in transitus, and with Him in glory.

In a particular way his Mother. Wouldn’t you be surprised if it were not so? Even so, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Jesus has overcome death in his own person, for the whole of humanity, and we see that victory already realized in a particular way in his mother.

Personal Reflection

In NYC there is a joke that says all Italian men talk about two things: their Mom and baseball.
I can attest.

When it came to the graveside service for Mom, I used my own hands to set down her cremated remains into the grave to rest with her beloved Uncle Tony. So, yeah, if I could have, the same as Jesus, the same.

Have no fear of death in its ultimate power. It is but a transitus to the Father.

Franciscan: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081526-Vigil

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry