Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – Assumption

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab
  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
  • Luke 1:39-56

It was already the middle of August.  Where had the summer gone?  With everyone still wearing short-sleeved tops and light clothes, it struck everyone as odd that Mom and Mary Clare were talking about last winter’s Christmas Pageant. 

“It will be perfect, Mary Clare!” Mom said, as she encouraged her daughter.  “You were wonderful in the Christmas Pageant, and it will be just as wonderful today!”

“All right, Mom,” Mary Clare finally agreed.  “But I hope I remember it all!”

With that statement, Mary Clare headed upstairs.  Mom and Dad called the rest of the family into the living room for the Gospel reading for this Sunday.

Dad began.  “Today is a very special feast day of the Church!  Can anyone tell me what special day it is?”

“I can, Dad!”  Peter announced.  “It’s the feast of Mary’s Assumption!”

Peter looked down to see who or what was pulling on his leg.  Peering down, he saw his little 4-year-old sister looking back at him.

“Peter,” Hillary asked her college-bound brother, “what’s a sump?”

“Huh?” he asked her, not quite knowing what she was talking about.

“A ‘sump’!” Hillary repeated with more emphasis.  “And why was it on Mary’s chin?”

Peter stood silent for a moment, and then howled with delight.  He scooped up his little sister in his arms and said, “Hillary, sometimes you are just too cute for words!  It’s not a sump on Mary’s chin, it’s her ASSUMPTION!  That means she was taken body and soul into heaven!”

“That’s right, Peter,” Mom added, still smiling from her daughter’s comment.  She went over to the table and picked up her Catechism.  

“For today’s feast, I looked up the passage about the Assumption of Mary,” she began.  “It states here in Paragraph 974: ‘The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of His Body.’ “

“So, to help us celebrate the feast of the Assumption,” Mom continued, “I have asked Mary Clare to help out with today’s Gospel reading.”

Mary Clare now came into the room, dressed in the same blue and white gown she wore for the Christmas Pageant last winter.  She stood quietly in the middle of the room as Dad began reading the Scripture passage for Mass today.

The Gospel began with Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth.  Then it moved on to the Canticle of Mary, also known as the “Magnificat.”  This is where Mom nodded to Mary Clare, and she began reciting her lines just as she did in the pageant when she portrayed the Virgin Mary: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”  (Luke 1:46-47)

As Mary Clare stood there, Mom began her part.  “In these lines, Mary’s heart is overflowing with praise to the Lord!  She knows what is being asked of her, and she marvels at the greatness of God!”

Mary Clare went on.  ” ‘For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.’ ”  (Luke 1:48)

Then Mom added, “Mary is a humble woman.  She overflows with gratitude that God would see fit to raise her up to such heights.  In God’s plan, all people will honor her as the mother of the Savior.”

As the rest of the family watched, Mary Clare continued the Canticle:

“The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with His arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
(Luke 1:49-55)

As Mary Clare stood there, having recited the Magnificat from memory, a hush still lingered over the family.  Finally, Mom said, “The Virgin Mary has an honored place in our lives as Catholics.  Her ‘yes’ to God came from the deepest part of her soul, and she overflowed with joy and praise to the Lord.”

“That’s right, Mom,” Peter added.  “Mary is blessed among all women, having been chosen to be the mother of Jesus!”

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Cycle A, Assumption, SSSDownload

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