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~~~

The 40 Day Marketing Campaign

~~~Joel 2: 12-18 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ 2Cor. 5: 20-6:2 ~~~ Matt. 6: 1-6, 16-18 ~~~

"Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep..."

Today begins Christianity's intense marketing campaign held every year at this time. This campaign will only last for 40 days...it is called Lent. In order to let the world know you are participating in and supportive of this annual event we ask that you come forward to be marked with ashes. This marking of the cross with ashes high upon your forehead is visible for all to view. In fact this is a temporary branding signifying that you willingly agree to share.

 Just for today as we begin this time together we ask you to tell the whole world by this action of being marked with the cross...the time is now.
The permanent branding for a Christian is both the crucifix and the crown of thorns. They are, each one, quickly identified with our salvation.

In order to believe in this salvation the prophet Joel offers us a few guidelines.
"...return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God."

The anointed ministers are urged to offer additional prayers an our behalf even to the point of weeping. Intervening before God for us, each of us, not only those in most need due to grave sin, but me and you.

The prophet taps into our human emotions of compassion for our sisters and brothers. Weeping implies a deeper emotional content; it is not only reciting prayers.

The salvation marketing campaign continues with Psalm 51.
"...wipe out my offense...wash me from guilt...cleanse me...
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me."
And finally, "...a willing spirit sustain in me."

A marketing campaign is only successful if people respond. We, the people, have to take some action. That is what a good campaign does, it moves people to take action. Effective marketing campaigns make the listener or observer believe he or she cannot live without the intended product.

With that in mind we are given Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." Take action. Do not wait. "...now is a very acceptable time...now is the day of salvation."
Here we are poked with some high pressure sales tactics. You know the drill...this offer is only good until...act before midnight...the price is increasing tomorrow...this offer will never again be made.

The church chose one more person to present the salvation message today and that is with the gospel of Mark. Mark says, 'oh and by the way if you choose to accept this message for your salvation' there is more you need to know. We know that if you accept and agree to take action on your own behalf, it will require time spent in prayer and fasting.

This wonder of salvation comes with a few strings attached...and those would be sacrifices. No one can really make sacrifices in your place. You are the one who must your cross.

Prayer is the most important way to draw strength. Through the power of prayer you are able to make  the necessary sacrifices. Through the power of prayer you can carry your cross.

"But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your father in secret."

While the priests and ministers are on the porch praying and weeping for us we in turn must go to our inner room, behind closed doors to pray. During these next 40 days sequester yourself away for personal prayer and fasting. Do this in secret without boasting about how you have bought in to this life saving marketing campaign. Let your prayers rise like incense to the father in heaven.

This is your life.
This is your salvation.
The time really is now.
The crucifix logo is for you.

Pray to your father in heaven like you have never prayed before; start today. Do not wait!

Let the burned ashes of today create your clean heart of tomorow.

Original photo taken of incense rising at the foot of the cross.

This kaleidoscope image to me reflects leaving the colorful busy outside world;

entering into the inner prayer room.

May this season of Lent bring you ever closer to Our Lord.

May your truly rise like incense upward to the Father.

Prayers of Hannah

The book of Samuel 1:9-20

We find Hannah distraught with being unable to conceive children. She goes to the temple to pray, which is admirable, but she is bitter. She prays 'weeping copiously'; not too surprising for a woman to be crying. Right? Then she makes a deal with God.

I used to watch a television show called Deal or No Deal. People on this show would make unbelievable choices always  motivated by the lure of making a better deal. May be some food for thought there.

So back to Hannah. She not only begs to conceive a son; she goes on to make promises on behalf of this son. Now I am the mother of two sons and if I even begin to try to tell them how to live their lives they would resist. I am not sure about making these kinds of bargains with God, especially when they go beyond yourself. While I certainly pray for my children; I do not think our prayers should be bargains. When we come to the Lord in prayer it is 'Deal or No Deal', but God is in control.

The best attitude for me is to pray that I will have the grace to accept God's answer, especially when it is contrary to what I want. But as we read on in the book of Samuel God does bless Hannah with a son. He does answer her prayers.

Hannah's prayer was 'prompted by her deep sorrow and misery'. St. Catherine of Sienna, a Doctor of the Church says, "...never let your soul give in to sadness or discouragement, for the devil would like nothing better." She warns us that these feelings tempt us to give up on God; even to stop praying in some cases.

I admire Hannah because she does take her sadness to God in her prayer.

"May the spoken words of my mouth, thoughts of my heart, win favor in your sight, O Lord."

(Ps. 19:15)

Let our prayers rise up to God like fragrant incense, carrying our sadness and disappointments to him. If you focus on the smoke from incense, it first rises filling, clouding the air for a moment and then it slowly disappears. This rising incense becomes one with the surrounding air leaving behind only it's fragrance as evidence of its presence. (More about the importance of fragrance another time.)

Hannah called out to the Lord in prayer and she was blessed by his answer...Samuel.

"Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,

which are the prayers of the holy ones." (Revelation 5:8)

Music and incense, ambience for prayer.

I chose this original picture because it captured the incense smoke rising.

I am eager to be overshadowed with the fragrance of God.