The feast of the Assumption is when we celebrate the death and "resurrection" of Mary. Eastern Christians focus on her passing (called her "Dormition" - falling asleep), Western Christians also focus on her Assumption (with her body) into heaven. We say Assumption, and not resurrection, to distinguish it from Jesus' resurrection, because there is a sense in which Jesus' resurrection was active - The Father raised him, but he also raised himself, because he is divine. Mary is not divine, so she could not raise herself, so her Assumption is passive - Jesus raised her.
So this means there are no relics of Mary's body, and while there is a site of Mary's tomb in Jerusalem, it has always been empty. It also means that, in addition to Jesus, there is one other person already in the heavenly realm in her resurrection body - Mother Mary. The rest of us (including all the other saints) have to wait until the general resurrection to get our resurrection bodies (i.e., get our bodies back, transformed, redeemed, and glorified).
And in my home, August 15th is also my wife, Tammy's birthday. So we are celebrating both of these things today. And by the way, for Catholics, The Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation, so we go to Mass.
P.S. I call it a "feast" but it's actually a "solemnity" which is a designation for the most important feast days. If I understand it correctly, all solemnities are feasts, but not all feasts are solemnities. It doesn't mean that it's more "solemn" as in serious or sad, it means it's more significant.
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
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