GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 15, 2021

Solemnity of the Assumption  of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel: Lk 1:39-56 

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town  in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and  greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child  leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and  blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to  me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard  the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of  what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit  rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the  lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will  call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me,  and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from  generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;  he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has  brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the  lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich  away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of  his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to  Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with  her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth can be spoken of  as the very first instance of evangelization in the  New Testament. But the proclamation is not done with  an abundance of words, but simply with a greeting, with personal  encounter and presence. Words are not necessary, because the Word in-flesh which Mary carries in her womb powerfully announces itself  through the same Spirit by which it has been conceived. Genuine  and effective evangelization does not only involve being a Christ announcer, but more importantly, being a Christ-bearer to others. It  means letting one’s life become the platform on which the Divine  Word can stand to address his hearers heart-to-heart. Lord Jesus, help us to conduct ourselves in such a manner as to allow  your presence to shine through our lives and become good news to others. Amen.