A Penitent Blogger
And then she returned home
If you do the math, the last verse of today’s Gospel (Lk. 1:39-56 – the familiar story of the Visitation) sounds just a little odd.
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
At the Annunciation, Mary had been told that Elizabeth was in her sixth month. Mary then stayed about three months with Elizabeth and left. Six plus three equaling nine, it sounds as if Mary left right around the time Elizabeth’s baby was born.
Why did Mary leave at that particular time? Whatever the details of the situation were, it is pretty safe to say that Elizabeth was well taken care of at that point and that Mary had reached a significant point in her own, even more momentous pregnancy.
* * * * *
But, coming as it does on this Solemnity of the Assumption, this last verse takes on additional resonance as we celebrate Mary’s coming to the end of her earthly life and being assumed into heaven.
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home
Mary stayed a short time on this earth and then she went home... to heaven.
* * * * *
Three months... a short time.
People often say “Life is short” – sometimes as a fatalistic justification for indulging oneself (by the way, a safety tip: selfishness and debauchery do not set you up for a good eternity).
Life truly is short, as anyone who has thought about it (or had to think about it) will quickly attest.
Indeed, people often think back on some important moment earlier in their lives and say, “It seems like yesterday.” In that sense, when one looks back on one’s life – even one that may be statistically longer than the average human lifespan – it can seem very short indeed: even as short as three months.
Also, when one considers the great scope of history – the thousands of years of human history and the multitude of generations that have been born, died and turned to dust – the length of our life seems very short indeed: as short as three months.
How are we spending our three months?
Have we been wasting it on pursuing pleasures that vanish like wisp of smoke? Have we been wasting it by vacillating, dithering, and procrastinating? (God have mercy on me)
Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. She followed the Lord’s will and she cared for others.
How should we spending what’s left of our three months?
What if – God forbid – we should find out that we have literally only three months to live? What would we do differently? How would we prepare ourselves for eternity?
Why aren’t we living that way now?
* * * * *
The last part of the verse profoundly resonates with today’s Feast of the Assumption:
...And then (she) returned to her home.
"...that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."
Pius XII – Munificentissius Deus
Some Catholics are apathetic about the Doctrine of the Assumption. Not knowing much about it, they just categorize it as one of “those Mary things” and go on with whatever they’re doing with their lives. Some others are defensive about it, mindful of objections to the doctrine by some Protestants.
The fundamental reality underlying the teaching of the Assumption, however, is something that all Christians can and should celebrate: that our destiny is to be with the Lord body and soul, that our eternal happiness will not be merely some ethereal, incorporeal beatitude.
For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one savior of mankind, what is being celebrated in the Assumption awaits all who believe and serve the Lord: returning to our home, body and soul.
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home
The Feast of the Assumption reminds us that our lives on this earth are short and that the Lord has prepared wonders for those whom he loves.
Today's celebration also leaves us with this question: when the Lord calls us home – perhaps years from now or perhaps before we can take our next breath – will we be ready?
Miserere mei, Domine.
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
At the Annunciation, Mary had been told that Elizabeth was in her sixth month. Mary then stayed about three months with Elizabeth and left. Six plus three equaling nine, it sounds as if Mary left right around the time Elizabeth’s baby was born.
Why did Mary leave at that particular time? Whatever the details of the situation were, it is pretty safe to say that Elizabeth was well taken care of at that point and that Mary had reached a significant point in her own, even more momentous pregnancy.
* * * * *
But, coming as it does on this Solemnity of the Assumption, this last verse takes on additional resonance as we celebrate Mary’s coming to the end of her earthly life and being assumed into heaven.
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home
Mary stayed a short time on this earth and then she went home... to heaven.
* * * * *
Three months... a short time.
People often say “Life is short” – sometimes as a fatalistic justification for indulging oneself (by the way, a safety tip: selfishness and debauchery do not set you up for a good eternity).
Life truly is short, as anyone who has thought about it (or had to think about it) will quickly attest.
Indeed, people often think back on some important moment earlier in their lives and say, “It seems like yesterday.” In that sense, when one looks back on one’s life – even one that may be statistically longer than the average human lifespan – it can seem very short indeed: even as short as three months.
Also, when one considers the great scope of history – the thousands of years of human history and the multitude of generations that have been born, died and turned to dust – the length of our life seems very short indeed: as short as three months.
How are we spending our three months?
Have we been wasting it on pursuing pleasures that vanish like wisp of smoke? Have we been wasting it by vacillating, dithering, and procrastinating? (God have mercy on me)
Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. She followed the Lord’s will and she cared for others.
How should we spending what’s left of our three months?
What if – God forbid – we should find out that we have literally only three months to live? What would we do differently? How would we prepare ourselves for eternity?
Why aren’t we living that way now?
* * * * *
The last part of the verse profoundly resonates with today’s Feast of the Assumption:
...And then (she) returned to her home.
"...that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."
Pius XII – Munificentissius Deus
Some Catholics are apathetic about the Doctrine of the Assumption. Not knowing much about it, they just categorize it as one of “those Mary things” and go on with whatever they’re doing with their lives. Some others are defensive about it, mindful of objections to the doctrine by some Protestants.
The fundamental reality underlying the teaching of the Assumption, however, is something that all Christians can and should celebrate: that our destiny is to be with the Lord body and soul, that our eternal happiness will not be merely some ethereal, incorporeal beatitude.
For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one savior of mankind, what is being celebrated in the Assumption awaits all who believe and serve the Lord: returning to our home, body and soul.
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home
The Feast of the Assumption reminds us that our lives on this earth are short and that the Lord has prepared wonders for those whom he loves.
Today's celebration also leaves us with this question: when the Lord calls us home – perhaps years from now or perhaps before we can take our next breath – will we be ready?
Miserere mei, Domine.
posted by Penitens | 7:02 AM
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