ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, 2024
AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA GROTTO, ST. MARY PARISH, KORLUEDOR
HOMILY BY BISHOP JOHN K. LOUIS
THEME: WE WISH TO SEE JESUS, THE SON OF MARY
INTRODUCTION
Today we gather to rejoice with Mother Mary, because her Son and our Lord Jesus Christ has, in union with the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, greatly honoured her with the glory of heaven.
She, whom the Son (Jesus) has so much honoured, is the best person to lead us to Him.
OUTLINE
- Assumption of Mother Mary
- We wish to see Jesus
- Seeing Jesus through Mother Mary
- ASSUMPTION OF MOTHER MARY
For many young Africans, Europe and America are dreamlands. So, after they have secured a stay there, they take their parents also there. Similarly, Jesus, having returned to His glorious heaven, came for His Mother, body and soul. Thus, Rev. 12:1-4 gives us a vision of Mother Mary in the glory of heaven.
At the pleasure of our Lord and through the intercession of His Mother, may we also enter the glorious places which He has prepared for us in His Father’s house (cf. John 14:1-6).
- WE WISH TO SEE JESUS
“We wish to see Jesus” (John 12:21). This request was first made by some Greeks. Thus, we read from the Gospel according to St. John: “20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus” (John 12:20-22).
We should see Jesus, not with our own agenda, but to know His agenda and to put it into practice with the help of His grace. In other words, what should be the primary aim for seeing Jesus? We find the answer in Jesus’ response to Andrew and Philip who told Him about the desire of some Greeks to see Him:
“23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor” (John 12:23-26).
Thus, the main agenda for seeing Jesus is fourfold:
- To know Him, who though came to us as the “Son of Man”, is truly the “Son of God”
- To die to self and to accept the new and eternal life He offers
- To serve Him by following Him (and not our own agenda)
- To ultimately be with Him in heaven
- SEEING JESUS THROUGH MOTHER MARY
Who best can make you know a person other than his/her mother? Similarly, it is Mother Mary who can make us know her Son, Jesus, and His agenda for us. In the Gospels, there are several instances in which certain people had access to Jesus through Mother Mary and they were truly blessed:
Firstly, on the night of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Mother Mary presented Him to the shepherds, who then glorified and praised God (cf. Luke 2:8-20).
Secondly, Mother Mary presented Jesus to the Wise Men, who then worshipped and offered Him gifts. Then, they were saved from the evil plot of King Herod (cf. Matt. 2:1-12).
Thirdly, Mother Mary presented Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem and this made God’s promise to the old Simeon to be fulfilled; and so he praised God as well as prophesized (cf. Luke 2:22-35).
Fourthly, on the same occasion in the Temple, Anna the prophetess would also encounter Jesus and praise God and announce that Jesus was the expected Messiah (cf. Luke 2:36-38).
Fifthly, Mother Mary presented Jesus to the waiters at the wedding at Cana who then listened to and obeyed Him; and His glory was revealed through His miracle (cf. John 2:1-11).
- CONCLUSION
Beloved, even today Mother Mary is in the business of presenting Jesus to us or leading us to see Him, so that His agenda for us could be fulfilled. In this way, we will ultimately join her in the glory of heaven to praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. Amen!
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis
