Diocese of Portland

If we truly try to do that, I think we can start to find solutions to the problems which so concern us today. 2/2

Jesus himself told us that whatever we do for our neighbors, we do for him. He is present in them. What an amazing statement. What it means is that we look on any person in our city or our world and see there the face of Christ. 1/2

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a confirmation of the hope to which we are each called. May this feast encourage us and help us to follow and to accompany Mary in her triumph! 10/10

Mary’s Assumption is God’s promise to us. Every Christian who follows the path Mary set for us, humble disciple of Jesus, faithful follower of God’s will for us, can look forward to eternal joy in the presence of God! 9/10

Mary’s Assumption shows us what we shall become one day. Just as God has assumed Mary into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly mission, so God will lift the Church into communion with Himself in heaven at the end of history. 8/10

The mission that was Mary’s is now the mission of the Church, and each member of the Church. It is the Church’s mission to continue to bring Jesus Christ into the world. We bring his message of love to life through our actions. 7/10

Mary brought the infant Jesus into the world on the first Christmas. She, with Joseph, took care of him as he grew to manhood. We know, as well, that she became one of those who followed him. She accompanied Jesus as he fulfilled his mission. 6/10

The fundamental thing we must always remember about Mary, the Mother of God, is that she was a human person. As a human, she accepted God’s request of her through the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of his son. Because of her “Yes,” Jesus is born. 5/10

It is a beautiful legend. And there is a truth hidden inside it. that truth is that this feast is about us, God’s beloved children, as much as it is about Mary, and the honor that God gave to her. 4/10

It grew around the story that as Our Lady was carried by the angels to heaven, she wept. Her tears landing in the waters made the water a healing place. Each year people would return to the water believing that, on this feast, that blessing in the water was present again. 3/10

My mother told us that it was the belief that the water had a special healing grace through the intercession of Mary on her feast day. I later learned that the tradition is old. It may be Irish. It may be from elsewhere. 2/10

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. I inherited a wonderful custom from my Irish mother which was an important part of the feast of the Assumption in my home. We had to go to the beach as close to the feast day as we could. 1/10

Today, we hold the Memorial Mass for Bishop Joseph, the beloved 10th Bishop of Portland. He was a monk, priest, abbot, and bishop. No matter the mission, he was a pastoral presence of the Good Shepherd. Join me at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral to honor his amazing life and faith.

The “treasure” we find in Jesus and his Gospel sends us forth to share the good news of God’s love with others! 8/8

With both these stories, Jesus is telling us that we can find in him the most valuable, the most precious thing in the world. We always need to understand more, to love more, and to serve more. 7/8

Once the merchant finds the perfect one, he sells everything he has so that he can have it. But this man evidently does that for his business. He is constantly looking for these precious pearls. He is a merchant. He sells them. 6/8

It gives direction to our lives as it helps us to make decisions and choices. The man who seeks the perfect pearl again tells us a similar story. The pearl is something exceedingly valuable. 5/8

He believes that the buried treasure he has found will change his life. In telling the story, Jesus is asking us to see him, Jesus, and his way of life as that “treasure.” He wants us to know that a relationship with Him is the most valuable thing in the world. 4/8

Being in a relationship with Jesus connects us with God, and with one another, and provides a direction for life. Yesterday, we read about the man who found the treasure in the field who would sell everything to have that treasure. Why? 3/8