Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Intention: For teachers, staff, and school leaders preparing to welcome students back, that the work of these first weeks may be marked by patience, attentiveness, and hope.
Today’s Gospel | 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.
From the Sixth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
This was symbolized by the ladder which Jacob saw in a dream when he was going to Mesopotamia. Angels were going up and coming down the ladder. They were going up to God to make known to him the needs of those for whom he made them responsible and to receive his orders for them. They were coming down to teach those whom they were guiding the will of God concerning their salvation. You must do the same thing for the children entrusted to your care. It is your duty to go up to God every day by prayer to learn from him all that you must teach your children, and then come down to them by accommodating yourself to their level.
Prayer
Eternal Father, today you show us where this all leads. The lowly servant is lifted up, the promise is kept, and a human life is carried whole into your presence. Let that ending shape our beginning. Keep us from measuring our work by what is visible this week, and hold before us the hope that nothing given to you is lost. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.