The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
In seminary, I never grow tired of watching my closest friends be ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Usually at these ordinations, I find myself with two thoughts. The first thought is awe of the tremendous vocation to which my friend is committing. The second is all of the time it took to get there: the funny stories, the difficult ones, and even the moments when it felt like this day would never come.
But the reality is that for the majority of the Church, they will only know this man AFTER his ordination, and after all of those memorable days in seminary. They will only know this priest as a minister to their souls, to their families, in times of need. And I know deep down, that all of those times in seminary have led up those days. This man was always on track to be that shepherd of souls. When I know these men in seminary, I often think, I can't wait for the world to avail of them.
I still recall my first times praying and meditating on the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, and finding myself quite confused when announcing the Assumption of Mary. I had so many questions. How did it happen? When did this happen? How long did Mary have to wait to be assumed, to spend eternity in heaven with her Son? To intercede for the world for the rest of time? And it gets tricky because there isn't a perfect explanation of the Assumption in the bible. In fact, there is no explanation. Mary's Assumption is known in the Tradition of the Church, the great pillar of our faith that towers alongside Scripture.
In today's Gospel, Elizabeth says these words to Mary in the famous Visitation scene, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." When Elizabeth said these words, she was talking about the birth of Jesus Christ. But she was talking to the woman who was destined to be assumed into Heaven. Destined to be our intercessor. Perhaps we don't know the exact details, but we do know where Mary is now. She ever continued believing in the Lord. She is in heaven "where she had a place prepared by God." And I can say with even greater conviction than I say of my seminary classmates, I can't wait for the world to avail of her.
Christopher Meyer is a transitional deacon and seminarian studying for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He likes sports, and he loves Jesus, Mary, and the Church. For a strange combination of sports and theology, you can find him on Twitter. He can also be found on Instagram and promises never to post his food.