Daily HOMILY for August 15, 2019: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cycle C

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Assumption of the BVM (Thursday)

Washington Retreat House 

August 15, 2019 

THE OLD GUIDE++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  There is a story about a man and his young son who went on a camping trip to the mountains

Ø  They hired an experienced old guide, a Native American, who led them into areas that they would never have found on their own  

Ø  He was always pointing out beautiful little sights that most hikers would have missed

Ø  The young son was fascinated by the guide’s ability to see so much in the surroundings.

Ø  One day he said to this Native American, “I’ll bet that you can see God out there”

Ø  The old guide smiled and replied, “Son, as life goes on it’s getting hard for me to see anything but God out there”

MARY SAW GOD +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  That wise, old guide helps us to appreciate why we are honoring Mary today

Ø  Mary saw God everywhere in her life, especially in her bringing this special child into the world

Ø  She didn’t really understand this, but she still saw the greatness and mystery of God at work

1^STREADING +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In reading from Revelation, writer has a vision of a woman and a child being saved from a dragon

Ø  Passage refers to Mary & Jesus  

Ø  Vision sees God as stronger & winning out over forces of evil and death

Ø  Tells us that what we sometimes see as great and strong – symbolized in the dragon – may not be so in God’s eye

Ø  In the Gospel, Mary sees things in same way

Ø  G’s ways often R the reverse of R ways, ~ as lifting up the lowly & filling hungry & present 2 humble

Ø  So Mary sees G & forces of life and goodness as winning out over the forces of death and evil

CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Like old guide in forest, Mary sees G everywhere

Ø  She sees not as we sometimes do, but as G sees

Ø  It’s what makes her holy, holiest of all of us

Ø  Thus she came to fullness of life w/ G, to resurrection at her last breath and was assumed

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