Sunday, August 15, 2004
(8:59 AM) | Adam Kotsko:
Pontifical Standing Committee for Continental Philosophy in the Liturgy: For a Feast of Mary
Since today is the feast of the Assumption, I thought it would be appropriate to design a liturgy based around Mary. Kierkegaard takes the place of the Apostle Paul this time; the passage is perhaps a little too obvious. I also note that I tend to want longer readings -- perhaps the people putting together the lectionary could take note of my preference in this matter. Credit for the Pontifical Standing Committee's new logo goes to Jared Sinclair.
Reading I: I Samuel 1:19-28
Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the Lord."
The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and remain there forever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time." Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only--may the Lord establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of win. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord."
Responsorial: Psalm 87:1-3, 4, 5-6
R: All people will call you mother.
On the holy mountain stands the city he founded;
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. R.
Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia--
"This one was born there," they say. R.
And of Zion it shall be said,
"This one and that one were born in it";
for the Most High himself will establish it.
The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
"This one was born there." R.
Reading II: Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling
Who was ever so great as that blessed woman, the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary? And yet how do we speak of her? We say that she was highly favored among women. And if it did not happen strangely that those who hear are able to think as inhumanly as those who talk, every young girl might well ask, "Why was not I too the highly favored?" And if I had nothing else to say, I would not dismiss such a question as stupid, for when it is a matter of favor, abstractly considered, everyone is equally entitled to it. What they leave out is the distress, the dread, the paradox.... To be sure, Mary bore the child miraculously, but it came to pass with her after the manner of women, and that season is one of dread, distress and paradox... the Angel came only to Mary, and no one could understand her. After all, what woman was so mortified as Mary? And is it not true in this instance also that one whom God blesses He curses in the same breath?
Gospel: John 19:25-30
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
