20250815 ASSUMPTION: OUR HOPE OF VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH
15 August 2025, Friday, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First reading |
Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10 |
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun
The sanctuary of God in heaven opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it.
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready.
Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 44(45):10-12,16 |
On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.
The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.
So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to him.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.
On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.
Second reading |
1 Corinthians 15:20-26 |
Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.
Gospel Acclamation |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Mary has been taken up to heaven;
all the choirs of angels are rejoicing.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 1:39-56 |
The Almighty has done great things for me
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
And Mary said:
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
ASSUMPTION: OUR HOPE OF VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [REV 11:19; 12:1-6.10; 1 COR 15:20-26; LUKE 1:39-56]
The world and the global economy are in a fragile state. With simmering tensions in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia, a lack of caution could lead to World War III. This time, however, the suffering would be unimaginable. If the existence and security of nuclear powers are threatened, who knows whether they will unleash their nuclear weapons to protect their interests? Every country would seek to ensure the safety and protection of its own citizens first, at all costs. We see this also in the ongoing trade war, where – much like in armed conflicts – it is not a matter of what or who is right, but rather a matter of power, domination, and control. Put broadly, “national interests” have become the justification for almost anything a nation chooses to do.
Yet, the division and destruction taking place on a global scale begin with the individual, the family, and then society. Our personal sins will have an impact on the way we conduct our affairs with others, the way we raise our children, and the kind of future leaders our country will have. If we lack firm values in life, we cannot expect future generations to live a righteously and ethically. They will simply perpetuate the low moral standards the world unfortunately advocates. Today, leaders – not just in the political or corporate world but even in religious circles – can no longer always be trusted, as their integrity is increasingly called into question. The world expects leaders to deliver what they are paid to do, without concern for their moral or personal lives. This has created a dichotomy between one’s professional role and one’s personal life. In an age of moral relativism, people are told they must not judge whether something is right or wrong.
Thirdly, many of us fear pain, suffering, old age, separation from loved ones, and death. We dread the time when we are old or fall into ill health. We worry about our appearances and how others perceive us. We are afraid of becoming redundant and useless. Most of all, we fear the day when we can no longer walk, lose our mental faculties, and are taken out of circulation. So, what is life all about – especially when we have amassed so much wealth, worked tirelessly to reach our position, and achieved social status and recognition? Once we are out of public life, we are assigned to Sheol! Very soon, we are forgotten, and people move on as quickly as we leave the stage.
However, the message of today’s celebration is that we should not be too worried about these things. We can be concerned, but not worried. We need to trust in the Lord who knows what He is doing. God is ultimately responsible and in control of the situation and the salvation of humanity. Let us be realistic that the battle between good and evil has existed since the beginning of creation, when God told the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gn 3:15) In the book of Apocalypse, St John saw: “Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother.”
In truth, suffering, wars, and natural disasters will always be part of life. As the Lord said, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gn 3:17-19) Jesus also told His disciples, “And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” (Mt 24:6-8)
Yet, we are certain that there will be victory over sin, death, and division. Although at times it may seem that evil have power over us, Scripture tells us otherwise. This was also Mary’s hope – that God will eventually show forth His power. In the Magnificat, she proclaims: “He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy – according to the promise he made to our ancestors – of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.” Indeed, we are called to share in Mary’s hope for the restoration of justice.
Our assurance of victory is in Christ through His death and resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is our guarantee of our own resurrection. In the second reading, St Paul wrote, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him.” Mary’s Assumption, therefore, is our guarantee that she comes after Christ, the first-fruits of those who have been raised. We are confident that Mary, who was sinless and thus conquered sin through Christ’s grace, will also share in His resurrection. Mary, therefore, is our hope of glory and the promise of our own transformation. We, too, can be confident that we will share in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
But this victory, although won by Christ, remains a constant battle for us, as we read in the Book of Apocalypse. “Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother.” We need to cooperate with Christ as Mary did through God’s grace. Indeed, Scripture shows how Mary, the Woman, strived to be faithful to Christ. “The sanctuary of God in heaven opened, and the Ark of the Covenant could be seen inside it. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth.” All her life, she fought with evil alongside her Son, who faced constant opposition from the religious authority. “The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God and all authority for his Christ.”
Let us, therefore, in the light of this ongoing battle with evil, also follow Mary in living a life of holiness and union with God. As the responsorial psalm proclaims: “The daughters of kings are among your loved ones. On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir. Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: forget your own people and your father’s house. So will the king desire your beauty. He is your lord, pay homage to him. They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the king.” We must be forward-looking and rejoice in God even now as we struggle against evil. Like Mary, we claim God’s grace and victory, declaring: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.”
Faith is the ultimate victory over evil and despair. Like Mary, we must affirm our full faith in God who is faithful to us. Elizabeth affirmed this faith, saying, “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Indeed, this faith must see us through till the end when His kingdom is finally established. “After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet – though when it is said that everything is subjected, this clearly cannot include the One who subjected everything to him.”
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment