Assumption Year C – August 15, 2010

Christ the King 2010   Sermon by Deacon Michael Chrisman

Stay Plugged in! Stay Connected! Charge Your Device Here! This is what the giant blue and white sign read amid the frantic travelers as I made my way through an airport in Minneapolis Minnesota.

Stay Plugged in! Stay Connected! Charge Your Device Here! Directly under this sign was a massive wall of electrical outlets. In between these outlets were several different types of cables, in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Imagine, from this wall you could charge your laptop, blackberry, cell phone, Bluetooth, I-Pod, I-Pad, I-Phone, MP3 player, MP4 player, PSP, NDL, anything you had, you could charge. And if that wasn’t enough, while you are charging everything, you can check your E-mail, G-mail, Hotmail, Q-Mail, Facebook, Myspace, Faceplace, Twitter space, and Blog-spot –all in the interest of staying connected and plugged in. If you miss your flight, at least you are Plugged IN, Connected and Charging.

On that Highway to Judah, the queen clothed with the sun, carrying the son in her womb, was plugged in, connected and charged. Mary was making the journey to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. When they met, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, said Elizabeth, and at that moment her son, John the Baptizer, in the womb of Elizabeth jumped for joy, because he came into contact with the one who is the plug, the one who is the connection, the one who charges, the infant Jesus in the womb of his mother, Mary. Mary was plugged in-to her vocation, connected to Christ, and charged for a mission. Everything in the life of this strong, courageous woman of profound faith was and is always directed to her son. Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s greeting was not “thank you” or “you’re too kind”. Her response to Elizabeth called her cousin’s attention to the one who plugs in, connects, and charges all …Mary says, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior” and it is in her humility that Mary says, “For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant”—referring to herself, Elizabeth’s greeting is responded to with humility. Mary was plugged in—to her vocation, connected to Christ and charged for a mission to call everyone she met not to herself but to her son.

Stay Plugged in! Stay Connected! Charge Your Device here!

In the Archabbey Church, at the seminary at St. Meinard, the seminary that I will soon return to for my last year, there is a giant wooden statue of Mary holding in her arms the infant Jesus. Every time we go to mass in the Church we process down the isle toward this statue. It’s as though the line for communion is headed toward the base of this statue. But, right when the line seems that it is going to end, we make a right turn at the feet of Mary as she points to her Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Even as a statue in a church, Mary does not point to herself, but humbly guides us to her son. Mary is forever plugged in, connected and charged with the care of her children. We are her children, we are in her care.

Like Mary, are we plugged in, connected and charged for Jesus Christ. It is Mary’s faith that we desire to be plugged into. It is Mary’s faith that connects to Christ. It is Mary’s faith that charges us to Journey toward her son. Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, being taken into heaven body and soul.

“The Assumption means that there are two human bodies with God in heaven at this time—the human body of Jesus and Mary. Without the Assumption to balance the Ascension (of Jesus), the man Jesus alone without the woman Mary would be enjoying the fullness of salvation with God and we would be telling only part of the story. The Assumption is the ultimate proof of the equality of man and woman before God-through faith. The Assumption enables us to tell the full story, the full gospel, that Salvation for all Men, man and female, and for the whole man body and soul.”[1] So, it is on this day that we honor, remember and seek to unite ourselves with the faith of Mary through her the last words spoken in Sacred Scripture, “Do whatever He tells you (John 2:5b)”.

Stay Plugged in! Stay Connected! Charge Your Device here!