Assumption

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Our First Reading from Revelation states: 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.

Mary is the woman clothed with the sun according to our Catholic tradition and understanding.   Of course, this description is fanciful, but nevertheless, provocative.  It provokes concern for Mary and her child, Jesus.   It reminds us that a “huge red dragon” lurks to devour Jesus.    That dragon is interpreted to symbolize Satan and his works.

Jesus can be “devoured” without the red dragon’s or Satan’s involvement.  We all devour him when we forget his Way that should be our way.

Like Mary, we should give birth to Jesus every day by what we say and by what we do.   He also is our “great sign” we follow to battle the beast with seven heads (greed, envy, lust, hypocrisy, hatred, anger, and pride) and with 10 horns whose din makes us lose sight of his starlight leading us out of darkness.

Deacon David Pierce