Scripture Study for
Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1–6a, 10ab / Psalm 45:10bc / 1 Corinthians 15:20–27 / Luke 1:39–56
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Understanding the Word
By Br. John R. Barker, OFM
John’s vision of the woman and the dragon begins a section of Revelation that focuses on the power of evil—Satan—to oppose both God and God’s people. Although the power is formidable and truly destructive, in the end it does not prevail. The woman adorned with the stars, sun, and moon (see Genesis 37:9–10) represents Israel, who gives birth to the Messiah. Satan, of course, wishes to prevent this, but God rescues the child and also the “mother,” God’s people, who are also threatened by evil. The passage immediately after the reading (12:7–9) recounts the battle in heaven between Satan and Michael, which ends with Satan being thrown down to earth. Our reading resumes with a hymn of praise for God’s victory over Satan.
Paul has been responding to the claims of some that there is no resurrection, to which he answers that if there is no resurrection, then Christ was not raised from the dead and—if this is the case— then we have no hope (15:12–19). But Christ has been raised, and now Paul explains the implications. Christ has been victorious not only over his own personal death but over death absolutely. Just as our human existence and experience of death is corporate (“in Adam”), so also will be our experience of life “in Christ.” Those who “belong to Christ” will be the next to be raised, and then finally all will be raised when Christ comes into his kingdom.
Luke’s account of the Visitation features what might be termed two prophetic oracles, in the sense that both Elizabeth and Mary praise God and announce what God is doing. Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary focuses on Mary as “blessed” both because she is the “mother of my Lord” and also because she has believed what God has spoken. Mary begins by “proclaiming the greatness of the Lord” for the blessing God has given her, but immediately turns to the larger redemptive work of God, which is the reason for Mary’s blessedness. This redemptive work involves overturning the power of the proud, the rich, and the mighty in favor of the weak and lowly. All of this is done because God remains faithful to ancient promises.