| Readings: | Rev 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 1:39-56 |
| Date: | August 15, 2025 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
"And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
Elizabeth's rhetorical question is filled with wonder and incredulousness. I found in this question a number of different things to reflect on, here in the middle of August. The usual response to today's gospel is to focus on Mary, and her blessedness. For some reason, maybe because I am married to an Elizabeth, I was drawn to Elizabeth's situation and reaction as I read today's gospel.
The previous transalation we used at mass, translated that initial part of Elizabeth's greeting as "Who am I...". I think the current translation, "And how does this happen to me.." is so much better. The Greek phrase, pothen moi, is tinged with the sense of unbelief: how on earth has this happened to me. And the current translation properly takes the focus off me as somehow causing this.
As you know, Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist at a very advanced age. In those times, a woman who was unable to bear children was an object of scorn; there was also a question of why God was punishing her that must have lead to great psychological pain for anyone in that condition. Because of the great scorn and shame associated with barrenness, when Elizabeth not only conceived, but conceived at an age that made it clear that this was a special gift of God, she must have enjoyed a wonderful sense of justification and gratification. Now all of a sudden Mary, her young cousin, shows up and with the help of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth realizes that Mary is pregnant with the Savior and Lord of all. And she responds by focusing on what a blessing this is for Mary and how wonderful it is that Mary trusted in God's promise.
As I read this passage, I thought this is the same situation I am in when I am receiving Communion during Mass. As I bow before receiving the precious Body or, now thank God, the precious Blood, I can ask that same question: how does it happen to me that the savior of the world should come to me? One way to answer that question is hinted at by Paul in our second reading. Fundamentally this is Christ's doing not mine. This is not something I have earned or deserve. It is a complete gift from God and my proper response is to submit to that gift, let it fill me and lead me where God calls me to go. Just as Mary trusted that God would fulfill his promise to her as spoken by the angel Gabriel, so I must trust that God will give me whatever strength and protection I need to follow where he is leading me as part of the body of Christ.
I suspect that a lot of Catholics resist the baptismal call to be the Body of Christ, to be active disciples in spreading the Gospel, because they feel the are unworthy. In other words, their answer to that question, "Who am I that the savior of the world should come to me?" is that I am not worthy of that so I am just going to pretend it is not happening. Luke's gospel is full of what one biblical commentator calls a 'rogues gallery... women, sinners, little people whom no one would expect to respond favorably to God's revelation in Jesus", but of course, like Mary, many of them do respond. I cannot hide behind a false posture of unworthiness; it is God who can accomplish anything, even coming into my heart, of transforming me. But I have to do one simple thing: trust that God's word will be fulfilled. I am convinced that we all have the capacity to trust in God's word. We put our trust in so many things that cannot be considered completely trustworthy: our government, our banks, the drivers on the road with us as we came here today, that they would stay on their side of the road. So I know that we all have the capacity to trust. We just have to remember the fact that God, who cannot be unfaithful to us, has promised us he will stand firm and shepherd us, and be our peace.
As we celebrate this great Feast of the Assumption, let us be like Elizabeth. I pray that we are able to realize that we have been chosen by God, not because we are worthy, but because God's love is all powerful. Through the gift of Jesus's passion, death, and resurrection, we have been given God's word that God loves us so much, individually and as a people, that God cannot stay remote from us; that God is right here with us, protecting us and strengthening us. And I pray that, again as individuals and as a community, we can trust in that Word. If we can do this then it can be said of you and me that we too are blessed because we trusted that God's word to us would be fulfilled here and now, in us and through us.