Assumed into Heaven

~~~ The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~~~

~~~ Revelation 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB ~~~ Psalm 45 ~~~ 

~~~ 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 ~~~ Luke 1:39-56

We believe that some of the apostles remained with Mary.
They cared for her and provided for her needs.
However we do not have much written about her life
 after Jesus was taken into Heaven.

The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.

The remaining years of Mary's life must have felt like a desert at times.
She knew she would one day be reunited with her Son,
but still she had the vivid memories of his crucifixion.

From the moment of the Annunciation
God had a place prepared for Mary.

The goodness of Mary was evident from the beginning.
Her days without Jesus must have been spent
ministering and caring for the apostles.
Together they could share stories of Jesus.
Together they could support one another.
Together they would love one another.

On some occasions at Mass we use incense...
today was one such celebration.
The sun was shining brightly through the
large stained glass window above the altar.

We were all singing Ave Maria...
As our voices rose in song so too the incense rose
into the streaming colors of the stained glass window.

The vision was truly glorious to behold.
The smoke of the incense swirling and gently passing through the colors.
It seemed to linger awhile in the yellow...reminding me of
the radiance of Mary being Assumed into Heaven.

The incense was again used to bless the ambo before
 the Gospel was proclaimed.

As the words of the Annunciation were proclaimed,
once again the incense rose up into
the colorful shadows of the sunshine.

Once again the swirls of incense rose into the yellow light.

I so wanted to take a picture,
 but sadly that would not have been appropriate.

During the homily, as the priest spoke of Mary,
the incense gently disappeared.

The visual incense plus the music, the readings and the homily
made for a perfect liturgical celebration.

Mary allowed her soul to proclaim the greatness of God.

God filled her soul with unimaginable joy.

We do not have details of her death and assumption into heaven,
but her body must have been so filled with the glory of God
that it was glowing much like the sunlight in the incense.

God has a place prepared for you and for me.
It makes sense that he had a very special place prepared for Mary.

Today is a time to let your devotion
 and love for Mary be known.

The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

Today at Mass we were Blessed
 to catch a glimpse of golden sunlight.

Mother Mary,
pray for us.
Blessed are you among women.

~~~Peace~~~