August 15th (Assumption of Mary)

Post date: Aug 21, 2019 4:26:2 PM

August 15, 2017 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

Today, we celebrate our Faith that there is someone

whom we shall meet in heaven who has lived her faith wisely and humbly.

For this reason, she has challenging lessons to teach us

that will reveal the purpose of our lives. And we do not have to wait

until death finds us home in heaven to learn these lessons.

Through the pages of Scripture and Tradition,

Mary’s lessons have been remembered and passed onto us

so, we will understand what it means to live as disciples of Jesus.

From Mary’s example, we learn that the world and those who dwell in it

are not the pawns of random acts. We are all participants

in God’s wise and purposeful plan of salvation.

Without full knowledge or understanding, Mary agreed, in faith,

to become involved in God’s plan.

What she did not understand, she pondered and prayed.

She was thereby able to entrust to God

her misgivings and insecurities as to her future and that of her family.

From her fiat at the Annunciation to a life she had not chosen,

and through her acceptance of the sacrifices that would be hers,

Mary teaches us what faith is all about—that holiness lies

in hearing God’s word and keeping it.

Today’s Feast is unique—unlike some of the other Marian Feast days.

We will never be privileged with an Immaculate Conception;

we will never be honored as the Mother of God.

But in the Feast of the Assumption which honors Mary’s bodily glorification,

we find a sign of our own bodily glorification.

In her, we have a preview of what God has in store for us.

Mary is proof that human beings are destined for a

transfigured, glorified immortality.

Today, we see our Blessed Mother in her heavenly assumption.

Today, we should see ourselves in our heavenly, bodily resurrection.

What has happened to Mary—will happen to us.

Mother of Jesus, Mother of us all, pray for us Now and at the Hour of death.