Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS BIBLE

Lectionary No 622

FIRST READING (Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab)

"I saw a woman clothed with the sun and with the moon under her feet."

A reading from the Book of Revelation

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. The Ark that holds the agreement God gave to his people could be seen in his temple.

Then a great wonder appeared in heaven: A woman was clothed with the sun. The moon was under her feet, and she had a crown on her head. This crown was made of 12 stars. She was pregnant and cried out with pain because she was about to give birth. Then another wonder appeared in heaven: There was a giant red dragon. He had seven heads and ten horns. There was a crown on each of his seven heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth. He wanted to eat her baby as soon as it was born. The woman gave birth to a son, who will rule all the nations with a rod of iron. And her child was taken up to God and to his throne. The woman ran away into the desert. God had prepared a place for her there…

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven. The voice said: “Now our God has salvation. Now he has power. Now he has kingdom. And now the authority of his Christ has come!”

The Word of the Lord.

SECOND READING: (1 Corinthians 15:20-27 )

"Christ the first-fruits; then those who belong to Christ."

A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers:  Christ really has been raised from death—the first one of all those who will be raised. Death came because of a man. And because of a man comes the raising of the dead. In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again. But everyone will be raised in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. Then, when Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life. Then the end will come. Christ will destroy all rulers, authorities, and powers. Then he will give the kingdom to God the Father. Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under Christ’s control. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. The Scripture says, “God put all things under his control.” But when it says “all things” are put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself. God is the One who put everything under Christ’s control.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation (John 6:51)

℣. Alleluia. ℟. Alleluia.

℣. Mary has been taken up into heaven; 

the host of angels rejoices. 

℟. Alleluia.

GOSPEL (Luke 1:39-56)

"He who is mighty has done great things for me; he has exalted those of low degree."

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She cried out in a loud voice, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby to whom you will give birth. You are the mother of my Lord, and you have come to me! Why has something so good happened to me? When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy. You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”

Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord; my heart is happy because God is my Saviour. I am not important, but he has shown his care for me, his servant girl. From now on all people will say that I am blessed, because the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is holy. God will always give mercy to those who worship him. God’s arm is strong. He scatters the people who are proud and think great things about themselves. God brings rulers down from their thrones, and he raises up the humble. God fills the hungry with good things, but he sends the rich away with nothing. God has helped his people, Israel, remembering to show mercy to Abraham and his children forever, just as he promised to our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went home.

The Gospel of the Lord.