August 15 2023 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin - "A great sign appeared in the sky"

 Throughout the Scriptures God uses signs and wonders to get people’s attention, to indicate that he is at work to save His people, to show his favor, to call sinners to repentance, or simply to demonstrate that He is God and we need to listen to Him.

The rainbow after the flood and the dove carrying the olive branch were signs indicated God’s peace and a new beginning for humanity.  The handwriting on the wall in Daniel chapter 5 was a sign indicating that the Babylonian rule of the Jewish people was coming to an end. Remember, the Judge Gideon asked for a sign that God would provide protection and victory over the soldiers of Baal—a fleece that remained immune to the morning dew. The plagues of Egypt were signs that God was serious about delivering his people from slavery. And the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night were signs that God was guiding his people to freedom.

Heavenly signs accompanied the birth of the savior: the star of Bethlehem, the virgin’s conception. And the Lord himself performed numerous signs to show that he was truly God and Messiah—the changing of water into wine, the miraculous feeding of the multitude, walking on water, healing the blind and the lame, raising the dead.

The twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation speaks of a sign—a sign that would signal the communion between heaven and earth forever—the sign of the woman--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. Our Lady assumed into heaven is the woman of Revelation--she is the great sign. 

Not only is her assumption a sign that she is favored by God, but a sign for all of us, a sign of God's protection and victory for his people, a sign that the rule of the enemy over our minds and bodies and souls has come to an end, a sign that is to guide the Church, a sign that we need to repent of all the ways that we are not like her.

God has given us a sign. This sign—the sign of Our Lady’s assumption—is a pledge and promise from God to all people, of all places, and all times that loving God as Mary loves God leads to heaven. 

Mary's Assumption is God's sign to us: every Christian who follows Mary's path of humility and fidelity to God's can look forward to following her into the glories and joys of heaven. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Those who hear and observe the Word of God, as Mary did, will enter into the beatitude of God, as she has. 

It is always good for us to honor our Lady, to celebrate the marvelous deeds God has worked in her and through her. And yet, today’s feast, is so tremendous, because it’s the stamp of guarantee. Love God, obey God, and your destiny will be with God forever. 

She is, as we sing in the salve regina, Mary is spes nostra: Our hope. Her Assumption enables us to truly call her our hope. What God has done for her, he promises he will do for us. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” is a promise from the lips of God, the Word made flesh. You will be blessed, if you become like her, and trust like her, and obey like her, seek to please God like her, and cooperate with the will of God.

She is our hope in another sense. For she is not just an inanimate road-sign, or map, or picture for us to gaze upon. She cooperated mightily with the will of God during her life on earth, and she continues to cooperate with the will of God from her place in heaven. She is at work in each of our lives to help us join her company. She will always help those who turn to her aid, come to that place prepared for each of us.

 May the pilgrim journey of our lives be marked by joy, knowing that where Mary has gone, we are meant to follow. May Our Lady be present at every step of our pilgrim journey, filled with trials and sufferings of every kind that we, like her, may come to that eternal place prepared for us in heaven, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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May all members of the Church, like the Virgin Mary, magnify the goodness of God through word and deed.

That the Assumption of Mary may awaken government leaders to the supreme dignity of each human life, called to the heights of heavenly glory.

For all mothers, that they may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out their vocation, for the sanctification of all families, and the protection of all young people from the evils of error and sin.

For those who suffer any sort of trial, illness, addiction or trial: that the help of Our Lady, gloriously assumed into heaven, may fill them with the grace needed to carry their crosses with faith and hope 

For the deceased members of our family and friends, for all of the poor souls in purgatory…