August 15, Tuesday of the 19th week in Ordinary Time
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Daily Readings: First reading: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10, Second reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20–27; Gospel: Luke 1:39–56
Mary was immersed in the Hebrew Scriptures, so it's no surprise that her beautiful prayer, the Magnificat, echoes the prayer of another Jewish woman, Hannah. In Hannah's hymn of thanksgiving to God after the birth of her son, Samuel, she announced, "He raises the needy from the dust... to seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage" (1 Samuel 2:8).
The idea that God favors the poor in spirit can be found throughout Scripture. In Psalm 138:6, we read that "The LORD... cares for the lowly," and, in Matthew 5:3, Jesus calls "blessed" those who are "poor in spirit." Mary's Assumption into Heaven, which we celebrate today, is a wonderful realization of this truth. She, the humblest of creatures, is lifted up, body and soul, into heaven and crowned queen of heaven and earth.
In what ways can we follow our Blessed Mother in choosing lowliness and poverty of spirit? We can imagine Mary pondering God's words in prayer, listening attentively for his voice and direction amidst the many challenges she experienced. When unexpected change makes us anxious, we can ask her to help us keep our focus fixed on the Lord in prayer.
We can also imagine Mary withholding judgment from her neighbors, who may have been gossiping about her unexpected pregnancy. Her example can help us as we face fears about what others may think of us.
And when we see how Mary said yes to all that God asked of her, we can find the courage to say yes to the Lord in whatever he is calling us to do.
As we celebrate Mary's Assumption today, we honor the one who most perfectly embodies lowliness and humility. We honor the one who gave a wholehearted yes to God's plans, even the most unexpected and painful ones. Mary's life affirms God's promise: He will lift us up and reward us when we embrace a spirit of humility and obedience.
"Blessed Mother, teach me to embrace humility so that I can be lifted up with you."
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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