FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BESSED VIRGIN MARY

Faith in God

Golden Rule

Aaron;s Blessing

“May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.” 
NUMBERS 6:25

Aaron’s Blessing Num 6:22-27

A recent study concluded there are fifteen health benefits from smiling. Research shows that smiling calms the heart and reduces stress. In fact, a genuine smile encourages those around you. Without saying a word, it relays to others you are pleased with them. A smile can reassure and cheer; it communicates love and friendship. We might not always feel like smiling. Yet, even when we are in pain, in a wheelchair, or visiting yet another doctor, we can inspire others with a heartfelt smile.

In Aaron’s blessing, we find that God smiles: “May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORDsmile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favour and give you his peace” (6:24-26). In the Hebrew, the blessing was more than a prayer or a “hope-so” wish. The blessing was an “oracle”—a divine, authoritative revelation. Most likely this blessing was proclaimed every time there was a gathering of God’s people with a priest present, especially if it was a worship gathering. It is a binding blessing that cannot be revoked or prevented by evil.

God loves his people. He blesses and protects us by exercising great care and attention, guarding us as only he can. His oracle covers our every circumstance. His ear listens to our every prayer. God extends his grace to us even when we don’t deserve it. The Hebrew reads that God “lifts up his face” to give his people peace, prosperity, completeness, health, safety, and general well-being (all interpretations of the Hebrew word shalom).

When facing affliction and pain, our smile can be a message of cheer for a hurting friend. Complaining and grumbling about our circumstances, like the people in the wilderness (14:22), does not honour the Lord. But accepting the blessing and seeing God’s face smiling upon us gives us the opportunity of mirroring every part of the divine blessing of Aaron to a troubled world.

Stones of Remembrance

“These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” JOSHUA 4:7

Stones of Remembrance Josh 4:1-24

Keepsakes mark significant occasions in our lives such as births, graduations, engagements, and weddings. We save souvenirs from vacations, medals and trophies, and special hand-me-downs from our elders. We sometimes even keep things that remind us of the difficulties that we faced in our lives and somehow found our way through. These mementoes trigger memories and help us share the stories that give our children a better understanding of our history and experiences.

As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River, they may have retold stories of how God parted the Red Sea so their ancestors could cross on dry ground (see 4:23) and about the songs that Moses and Miriam wrote and sang to commemorate their dramatic escape from Egyptian bondage (Exod 15:1-21). Similarly, Joshua called together twelve men and instructed them to remove stones from the riverbed to build a memorial that would bear witness to the providence of God for generations (Josh 4:1-7).

We may not build stone altars today, but we still need reminders of God’s love and mercy. In the midst of hardships, it is easy to lose sight of the truth of God’s love. We can become trapped by erroneous thinking, worry, or complaints. Take time to consider a trial that God has brought you or a loved one through. Celebrate those hard-earned milestones. Remember Joshua’s message: “[God] did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD’s hand is powerful” (4:24).

reflection from John 3 16-17

John 3:16-17 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

POWER TO FORGIVE SINS

Biography of Saint Mary Magdalen

Saint Mary Magdalen

Also known as

• Maria Maddalena
• Maria Magdalena
• Mary Magdalene
• the Sinner

Profile

We have very little solid information about Saint Mary, and both scholars and traditions differ on the interpretation of what we do know.

She was a friend and follower of Jesus. Filled with sorrow over her sin, she anointed Christ, washed his feet with her hair. He exorcised seven demons from her. She was visited by the Risen Christ.

There are also arguments about her life after the Crucifixion.

The Greek Church maintains that she retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and lived there the rest of her life.

A French tradition says that Mary, Lazarus, and some companions came to Marseilles, France, evangelized and converted the whole Provence region, and then retired to live 30 years as a penitent hermitess at La Sainte-Baume.

Oh, some things we do know for certain - Mary wasn't Jesus' wife or mistress, she wasn't the mother of His child, she didn't found a royal dynasty or separate branch of Christianity, etcetera, etcetera, ad nauseam.

Died

the Greek Church says
• she died in Ephesus of natural causes
• her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886 where they remain today

a French tradition says
• as she lay on her deathbed, nine angels carried Mary to the oratory of Saint Maximinus in Aix where she received Communion and then died of natural causes
• she was interred in an oratory constructed by Saint Maximinus at Villa Lata (Saint Maximin)
• in 745 her relics were moved to Vézelay to save them from Saracen invaders
• at some point they were moved to a shrine at her hermitage on La Sainte-Baume; they were there in 1279 when King Charles II of Naples funded a Dominican convent on the hill
• in 1600 the relics were placed in a sarcophagus sent by Pope Clement VIII
• in 1814 the church on La Sainte-Baume, wrecked during the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution, was restored
• in 1822 the grotto was re-consecrated, still has the head of the saint, and is a pilgrimage centre

Patronage

• against sexual temptation
• apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists
• contemplative life, contemplatives
• converts
• glove makers
• hairdressers, hairstylists
• penitent sinners
• penitent women
• people ridiculed for their piety
• perfumeries, perfumers
• reformed prostitutes
• tanners
• women
• diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah
• 8 cities

Representation

• alabaster box of ointment
• long hair (refers to the wiping of Jesus' feet)

Readings

When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord's body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: "The disciples went back home," and it adds: "but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb." We should reflect on Mary's attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: "Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved." - from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great