The Assumption of Mary

We went to Mass at our Cathedral on  this  Solemnity of Mary. It was just an ordinary weekday Mass; except that how can any encounter with the Divine be anything but extraordinary....During the homily father spoke about our images of heaven. In his opinion the best description comes from Saint Augustine who spoke of it as "all of time gathered up/together". He then went on to talk on other things equally interesting but I'm afraid I wanted to pause a moment and think about this. All of time...all of the good that has occurred in time gathered together. It would have to be good because only good could see the face of God. But gathered how, as in a sharing of all good, a communal experience that just is. And what of the good that has happened because of the bad  The gore and horror of the crucifixion that results in the glorious resurrection, but without the crucifixion the resurrection would be meaningless. So I'm thinking I probably missed what was meant at Mass. But it doesn't matter, that part of eternity(the heavenly part that is) is probably best left to consider when it is(happens).

Today is a Holy day of Obligation for Catholics to attend Mass in Australia. Apart from Sundays which are always days of obligation, we are only left with this day and two others. Not many days when we are obliged to take part in the greatest prayer, the most powerful part of worship for us as Catholics. I remember when I first came back to the church thinking there weren't enough Holy days of obligation.Now I think , we can't make anyone have belief in  God, we certainly can't coerce people into worship. That would be ridiculous. C.S Lewis said "Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses." For most people, today was a very ordinary typically wet spring day. The way I demonstrate love for people (including the Catholics who didn't attend Mass today) will be a more effective witness than dragging reluctant neighbors to church. And still on a C.S Lewis quote though I can't remember it exactly (the quote that is!) but I recall him saying something about how if we saw how glorious we all really are as creations of God, we would be tempted to bow down and worship the very people we slander.