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08/13/2023 Father Owen's Weekly Message
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Dear Parishioners,
We gather this weekend to celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Mother. Mary holds a special place in the life of the church and today, we honor her profoundly obedient and loving life on earth. We call to mind, Mary’s parents, St. Anne and St. Joachim who desperately wanted a child. St. Anne became pregnant in later years expecting a boy. She was deeply happy. She had promised God that should she have a child, she would raise her child in the temple as an obedient and devout Jew. When St. Anne and St. Joachim held their baby girl in their arms, they retained their promise to God. Mary spent a lot of time during her younger years learning at the feet of the rabbi and so unusually so for a girl at that time, she was well versed in scripture. She was devout and had a deep relationship with Yahweh (God). We know the beautiful story so very well. Mary was invited by the angel to bear the son of God. Mary’s response being, “Be it done unto me Lord, according to thy will.” Mary went to visit with her older cousin, Elizabeth. Both women rejoiced at their pregnancies. St. John, the Baptist was to prepare the way for the Lord. The two women spent time together praying and quietly preparing themselves for the birth of Christ and the birth of John the Baptist.
Mary’s betrothed, Joseph was a righteous man and trusted in God initially with some difficulty but upon the visit of the angel, took Mary into his home. It is easy to forget that Mary and Joseph were undertaking this great task from God with total trust and yet were not clear of God’s direction for them. Their baby, Jesus, our Lord and Savior was born in a stable. They had to escape to Egypt. In time they returned to Israel, bringing up their child according to Jewish Law. To the world, they seemed to be an ordinary couple, hard-working, devout and kindly but their sincerity and inner joy made them standout in their community. We know Mary’s story very well. How a sword would pierce her heart when her beloved son, Jesus was imprisoned, scourged and killed on the cross and yet, she trusted. Her heart was broken but she walked with faith, awaiting the bidding of God, the Father. Easter Sunday was a day of great joy, when her son, our Lord, resurrected from the dead and changed the world forever. Mary who had been the first disciple of the apostles guided them through Resurrection and Ascension. Jesus ascended back to the Father and Mary moved to modern day Turkey to an area called Ephesus when she and St. John the Evangelist lived together in piety and companionship.
It would not have been appropriate that she, who bore Christ in her womb as the first tabernacle should suffer decay as the rest of us do and, therefore, we understand Mary’s beautiful body was assumed; lifted up by the power of God into the glory of heaven. Mary, we know sits at a special place in heaven and continues to guide the world with love and fidelity. On this holy day, my dear parishioners, we honor Mary’s perfect, “yes”. We celebrate this day when she was gloriously brought into the presence of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray that we too will always strive to be obedient of the Lord and to follow Mary, our Beloved Mother in loving trust.
Please remember the Feast of the Assumption, August 15th is a Holy day of obligation. I will celebrate mass at 9 am and 7 pm.
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us and for all who have recourse to thee.
Fr. Owen