Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 15, 2024

Date: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture Text:  Luke 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 with favor on 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 our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.”

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

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel reading brings us Luke’s account of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Through the power of the Spirit, Elizabeth knew immediately upon seeing Mary that Mary was carrying Christ because her own infant “in my womb leaped for joy.” Elizabeth speaks the profound truth for us all, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the LORD would be fulfilled.” How would the world be different if Mary had not believed?

Mary’s proclamation of praise, the Magnificat, speaks profoundly of the LORD’s greatness and concern for the lowly, the humble.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I believe in the LORD’s Word? Do I believe that the LORD’s promises will be fulfilled?

Praying:

LORD, You sent your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as our redeemer, and You called upon Mary to open herself to You and your divine plan for our salvation. We praise You, LORD, and give You thanks for your unfathomable love and the lengths and breadths of that love. And we give thanks for the faith and hope and love of the blessed virgin, of Mary, who believed You and believed that what the angel Gabriel spoke to her would be fulfilled. We give thanks for her fiat, for her “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Send your Spirit to tenderize our hearts, our minds, our wills so that we may respond to your Word always with belief. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.

Oil painting by Linda Holden Miller.