A journey: EDSA, Mary and Assumption

Listening to the Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Lk 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Reflection

Brothers and sisters…

Last Friday, July 30, I was on my journey home from NAIA airport with Fr. Justine and 4 new seminarians. It was 12.30 pm, I took EDSA, the most famous avenue in Manila. Although there were MRT and bus lines along EDSA, there was still heavy traffic at EDSA. Our car moved slowly in the midst of a thousand cars along EDSA. The heavy traffic made me tired.

Still at EDSA, we came through Guadalupe, just before Pasig River. From there, I could see a huge picture of our Lady of Guadalupe an LED screen in a skyscraper across the Pasig River. For me, it was unique. A huge religious symbol came up there. I wouldn’t find this kind of scene in other places. It was a kind of symbol of EDSA. Made me feel really in Manila, made me feel really in the Philippines. That’s why I asked Fr. Justine to take a picture.

The huge picture also made me think about Mama Mary. Then I can say, “In the life journey of Mama Mary, Mama Mary traveled a lot.” For census, Mama Mary and St. Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Lk 2:1-5). It was about 70-90 miles; Finding in the temple, Mary Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem (Lk 2:41-52); and of course, when Jesus suffered, Mother Mary did not just stay at home, she traveled again.

Brothers and sisters…

Today we celebrate the assumption of the blessed virgin Mary. In our gospel today, Mother Mary traveled again. Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. (Lk 1: 39)

Today we celebrate the assumption. It is time for us to remember one final journey taken by Mary. Remembering the journey from this earth into the halls of heaven. She was taken up by God, body, and soul, to her eternal rest, into the fullness of life everlasting. Mary is the model pilgrim.

As a Xaverian, this reminds me of the last day of St. Guido Maria Conforti. The last words before he died was “I will see God, my savior. I am going with the King of kings.”

Our life is a journey. Mary is our model. Our direction is heaven. So, as St. Therese of Lisieux. “Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.”

Amen.