Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, and this is the "Sunday Soundbite" for the Feast of the Assumption.

This feast celebrates our Catholic belief that Mary, when her earthly life was ended, was taken body and soul into heaven. There, she shares in the Resurrection of Christ her son. This doctrine—and the feast—also hold a promise. Today's second reading, from Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, tells us we, too, as members of the Body of Christ, will share in his Resurrection at the end of time. In the end, when death itself will be destroyed, all of us will share the life of our Risen Lord. Meanwhile, we live with that promise.

And when I say "live," I mean just that. The promise reminds us that God gives us the power to live our lives now in a new way. In today's Gospel, Mary voices her "Magnificat," a proclamation of the wonderful things God has done—and will do—for her. But not only for Mary, but "for those who fear God in every generation," past, present and future.

Saint Luke, our Gospel author, wanted to assure his own community that they were part of that promise. In his Gospel story, Mary appears as the model disciple, responding to the promises contained in God's Word. She took them to heart and lived by them. Let's imitate Mary, in the way we live our earthly lives, here and now.

I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, with the "Sunday Soundbite" for St. Anthony Messenger Press, on the Web at FranciscanRadio.org.