[0:00] Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin. This day is celebrated by many Roman Catholics and some Anglicans as the Assumption of Mary.
[0:15] ! Meaning she never experienced death but was immediately taken or assumed into heaven. Others, like the Orthodox as well as many other Anglicans, celebrate the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos, which states that Mary, like all mortals, died but then was taken into heaven immediately to be with God.
[0:40] Now if you're looking for an apologetic sermon on which side is right, you will be disappointed by this homily tonight. What's often lost, however, in this most important feast is the focus upon grace and faith of St. Mary.
[1:01] We heard in our Gospel text this evening, St. Mary the Virgin exclaim, My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
[1:13] Mary was a person who continually praised God. Even after hearing the shocking news from the angel Gabriel that she now carried God in her womb.
[1:28] And that she would give birth to a son as a virgin. The ridicule and slander that Mary would endure is impossible for us to imagine.
[1:39] Virgins do not have children. And Mary would be a woman of great suspicion by many of her peers. But Mary praised the Lord and she worshipped her God despite the obstacles that lie ahead of her.
[1:56] Our Gospel text of Luke chapter 1 goes on to say that the Lord looked upon her lowly status. You see, St. Mary was not a person of great renown at this time, at least in history.
[2:13] She was not a person that wanted to draw attention to herself. She would rather give all praise and honor to God.
[2:24] And that's why she proclaimed, For he who is mighty, he has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
[2:36] Mary also praised God for being the defender of the weak and the vulnerable. She goes on to say and proclaim, In other words, Mary was a devoted worshiper.
[3:14] She was a person of God as she recognized that she owed all that she had, everything, to the Lord. Because he is the one, he is the one worthy of her and our worship.
[3:29] Because of her devotion and deep faith, All people from all ages now call the Virgin Mary blessed, Which is also the word for saint.
[3:43] As Elizabeth said just prior to what we heard in our gospel text, Blessed are you, Mary, among women, And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
[4:00] St. Mary, a woman of profound faith and humility, Was one who trusted in God above all things. Circumstances did not derail her faith.
[4:13] She was an unwavering follower of the Lord. And she accepted her calling to be the Ark of the New Covenant That carried the God of all creation in her womb.
[4:25] So what can we learn from St. Mary, the Virgin, the Blessed Theotokos, the Mother of God? There are many, many lessons that we can learn.
[4:39] But the one I want to highlight this evening is simply her allegiance and her love for God above all. We learn from Mary what it means to follow the first commandment, To have no other gods than the Lord our God.
[4:55] Mary was an example of this throughout her entire life. Fame and the praise from others were not what Mary desired. And even in motherhood, she did not put her needs before the Lord.
[5:13] She did not cling to her child and put roadblocks to the will of God. Mary accepted her calling, her vocation as mother to serve the Lord, Even if that meant letting go of her son.
[5:31] And eventually that's exactly what happened. Therefore, St. Mary teaches us to trust in God above all things, While living a simple, humble life of devotion, Praising God in all circumstances, in all times, and in all seasons.
[5:52] Therefore, on this wonderful feast that we celebrate this evening, Let us join our voice with St. Mary, the Virgin, the Mother of God, By exclaiming, My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
[6:13] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.