Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-14-13, SOL, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Vigil

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 08-14-13 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

August 15, 2013

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Vigil Mass

 

Reading 1 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2

David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD
to the place which he had prepared for it.
David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.

The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles,
as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.

David commanded the chiefs of the Levites
to appoint their kinsmen as chanters,
to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals,
to make a loud sound of rejoicing.

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.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14

R. (8) Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for her dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.

Reading 2 1 Cor 15:54b-57

Brothers and sisters:
When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
then the word that is written shall come about:

Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Lk 11:27-28

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.”

 

[Salvation]

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<< Thursday, August 15, 2013 >>

Assumption

Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
View Readings

Psalm 45:10-12, 16
Luke 1:39-56
Similar Reflections

FLYING LESSONS

"He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places." —Luke 1:52

Jesus ascended into heaven; Mary was assumed into heaven; those who live for Jesus will be assumed into heaven.

The laws of gravity, death, and sin seem to dominate our lives. We sin repeatedly and eventually are buried. However, this is not the end — as much as it looks like the end. "You can depend on this: If we have died with Him we shall also live with Him" (2 Tm 2:11). "The Lord Himself will come down from heaven at the word of command, at the sound of the archangel's voice and God's trumpet; and those who have died in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living, the survivors, will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thenceforth we shall be with the Lord unceasingly" (1 Thes 4:16-17).

In the doubt and disbelief of our secular humanistic culture, many people doubt if the Lord is actually going to defy gravity by taking us off planet Earth and assuming us into heaven. How do we know we have victory over sin and death? We don't appear very victorious.

Mary is a sure sign of hope. What the Lord has done for Mary, the mother of the Church, He will do for us, the members of the Church. There is hope — a great and glorious hope. No matter how earth-bound, sin-bound, and death-bound we seem, we can give our lives to Jesus and fly away. We will not only fly like the eagle (see Is 40:31) but also like Mary. In Jesus, "we shall overcome one day." Mary has proven it. Believe! Hope! Fly!

Prayer: Father, give me "a birth unto hope" (1 Pt 1:3).

Promise: "Just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will come to life again, but each one in proper order: Christ the First Fruits and then, at His coming, all those who belong to Him." —1 Cor 15:22-23

Praise: Praise Jesus, Son of Mary, Who reigns in Heaven with His Mother forevermore!

[Salvation]

 

Pray for an end to abortion and a return to a culture of life in our nation.