Feast of Mary's Assumption in the Jerusalem kehilla

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven was celebrated with joy and in the presence of a happy choir of three little boys, about two years old, and another older boy who behaved like a grown up – Benny, who is four years old. The mass was celebrated by Father Rafik in the presence of a number of other priests, including Father David, the Vicar for the Hebrew speaking communities and a church full of faithful.

The readings for the feast, obviously, focused on Mary, her faith in God and her obedience to God's plan and her assumption into heaven. The subject of faith and obedience were at the center of father Rafik's homily and were treated from different vantage points. Another focus was on the seeming contradiction between the little we know about Mary from the New Testament and the many feasts that center on her in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The old-new songs in addition to a poem dedicated to Mary (daughter of Zion) added to the atmosphere of the feast. While the faithful were enjoying the feast in the chapel, they could hear in the background the voices of the little boys who were running around, laughing and driving their daddies mad while the latter tried to watch over them and run after them. After the mass, announcements were made and one of them was to symbolically award Benny, the best behaved little boy of all, with a medal.

After mass, the hard working fathers (who were worn out by their tender offspring) helped set up tables for the modest reception in the courtyard. Those present spent time talking to one another in a happy, community atmosphere. It goes without saying that the little boys continued to run around, this time their mothers chased after them. I would assume that Mary and Joseph engaged in the same activities…

"Hail Mary, full of grace" – Happy feast to one and all. We can hope that we too might learn from Mary, mother of Jesus, to obey and to carry out God's plan, destined for us as individuals and as community, in a respectful way, just like Mary, the mother of us all.