At the Vigil Mass
FIRST READING
1 Chronicles 15:3–4, 15–16; 16:1–2
David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place that he had prepared for it. David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.
The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kinsmen as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it. Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 132:6–7, 9–10, 13–14 (8)
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. Let us enter into his dwelling, let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
May your priests be clothed with justice; let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy. For the sake of David your servant, reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
For the Lord has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 15:54b–57
Brothers and sisters:
When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:
Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
ALLELUIA
Luke 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who hear the word of God and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 11:27–28
While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Mass During the Day
FIRST READING
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1–6a, 10ab
God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16 (10bc)
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 15:20–27
Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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 for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
REFLECTIONS:
How strong is your hope in the promises of God? Mary
is a model of faith and hope for us. And she is among "the first-fruits"
of "all those who belong to Jesus" and who share in his triumph (1 Corinthians15:20-24).
There is a venerable tradition dating back to the early church which marks
Mary's "falling asleep" (called the Feast of Dormition in many Eastern
churches) and her heavenly birthday when she was received into heaven.
Her reception into heaven is seen as a sign to all believing Christians
of the promise Jesus made that we too would be received into paradise.
At the last supper Jesus told his disciples that he would prepare a place
for them in his Father's house. "And when I go to prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may
be also" (John 14:3).
What enabled Mary to grow in faith and to persevere in hope in the face
of obstacles and trials? The Gospel of Luke reveals the presence and power
of the Holy Spirit in Mary's life. When Elizabeth and Mary greeted one
another they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation
of the fulfilment of God's promise to give a Savior. John the Baptist,
even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for
joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence
of the King to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us
to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of
his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each
of us. Mary accepted her mission with uncompromising faith and obedience.
She acted with unwavering trust and faith because she believed that God
would fulfill the word he had spoken. Her great hymn of praise echoes the
song of Hannah (see 1 Samuel 2:1-10) and proclaims the favor of the Lord:
God exalts the lowly and he fills the hungry. The Holy Spirit is ever
ready to renew your faith and hope in God's promises and to make you strong
in love for God and your neighbor. Do you live in the joy and confidence
of God's indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking
you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the
joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All."
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