The "BER" months are here again!

Our world is in cycle, going round and round. And so we reach another cycle of the so-called "BER" months as September comes.

The last four months of the year in the Gregorian Calendar are fondly called the "BER" months. It starts, September, October, November and December. Though struggling still with the Covid-19 pandemic, the human spirit finds a light of hope at the start of the "BER" months.

In the Filipino culture, these months signify the beginning of the Yuletide Season in the Philippines all through the Christmas and New Year. The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word "BER" is Christmas.

It is said that the Philippines is the only country that starts the holiday season once September comes in. That is why the world's longest Christmas season is celebrated here in the Philippines.  This is not surprising as ours is Asia's predominantly Christian nation. All the more significant because Christians look at Christmas as our hope of redemption when the Savior comes to save us from sin. We implore our Messiah to save us also from this continuing pandemic.

During the "BER" months we hear and experience exciting changes in our usual way of living. Soon we will be hearing the first Christmas carols whichever place in the Philippines as early as September.  And as Christmas songs dominate the airwaves, who doesn't remember Jose Mari Chan, a famous Filipino song writer and singer, also known as the "Father of Philippine Christmas Music"?  He will soon entertain us with his iconic Christmas songs.

Shopping malls become crowded, and the ambiance is very joyous and festive.  Filipinos are normally known for their last-minute shopping, usually after receiving their 13th month pay and Christmas bonus sometime in mid-December. Although it is not unusual that many actually begin preparing their lists for holiday shopping and gift-giving as early as the month of September.

We will also see a lot of decorations, especially our colorful parols and Christmas trees.  Then, there are endless product promotions in the malls, television, radio and the like and even in socmed.  Small kiosks like tiangge start to pop up in different locations. Grocery stores start to stock up on food supplies and offer promotional items.

Also, we're given the license to be more fashionable during these "BER" months. It's the season to rummage our closets and begin wearing cozy clothing pieces, like the cute jackets.

Parks, highways, and streets are ornamented with Christmas lights and decors.  Even the Ber-month weather is just right for taking a walk outside and feeling the air breeze on our face and hair.

The colder season also allows us to sleep comfortably without perspiring the whole night.  It helps us to relax a bit and takes away the stress of a busy working day.

As the "BER" months progress near Christmas time, we encounter a lot of old-time favorite food delicacies, like cakes and cupcakes, bibingka and poto bumbong.

On top of all our preparation and anticipation for the Christmas season, the Catholic Church always reminds the faithful about the real meaning and purpose of Christmas: that God so loved that world that He gave His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin. So let us not forget our spiritual preparation foremost. Christmas is the time to liberate ourselves from selfishness and become persons for others, especially the needy during these trying and difficult times. An important part of our spiritual preparation is to go to confession and cleanse our heart to welcome the Savior of mankind. This is the way to really prepare for Christmas during these "BER" months, so that we are ready both materially and spiritually for CHRISTMAS DAY!

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

 Cycle C - Year II:  

15 August 2022: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Revelation 11:19--12:1-6, 10

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 15:20-27

Gospel:  Please Read  Luke 1:39-56 

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!"

TODAY is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church celebrates this Marian feast every 15th of August.

Our Holy Mother Church teaches that when Mary died her body was not subjected to the usual process of physical decay but was "assumed" into heaven and reunited  with her soul.

The assumption of the Blessed Mother Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas. The other three are her "Divine Motherhood", "Perpetual Virginity", and "Immaculate Conception". 

Let us understand what dogmas are in the Catholic teaching.  A dogma is defined as "a truth revealed by God" which the Magisterium of the Catholic Church declared as binding "for all the faithful to believe and accept."  A dogma may also be solemnly promulgated by the College of Bishops along with the Pope at an ecumenical council, or by the Pope alone when speaking in a statement "ex cathedra" (meaning, "from the chair" of Peter).  Because a dogma is infallibly defined it calls for the definitive assent of the faithful.

Pope Pius XII, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus,   proclaimed the Assumption of Mary as dogma of the Catholic Church on November 1, 1950 in these words: "We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the Immaculate Motherhood of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory." 

Mary's Assumption vs, Ascension of Jesus:     

How does Mary's Assumption into heaven differ with our Lord's Ascension?

The answer is that our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven by His own power because He is God. But Mary was assumed or taken up into heaven by God. She did not do it under her own power because she has none.

Gospel Reflection:         

The Gospel proclamation narrates the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth and ends with Mary's Magnificat or Song of Praise. Recall that the Visitation is the second Joy of the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

When Elizabeth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promise to give humanity a Savior. The elderly Elizabeth, also herself with child, reports that her child leaps with joy in her womb as the two cousins met.  So that the unborn child, John the Baptist, is the very first to witness the divinity of the unborn Child Jesus, in the temple of Mary's womb.

The Assumption completes God's work in Mary. In God's plan, it was not fitting that the flesh that had given "life" to God the Son should ever undergo bodily corruption in death. Mary's Assumption is God's crowning of His work as Mary ends her earthly life and enters eternity. So this Marian feast also turns our eyes in that direction, where we will follow when our earthly life is over.

Let us join Mary, on the solemnity of her assumption, as she thanks God for the many great and wonderful things He has done to her, as a humble servant of the Lord.

We, too, can pray our own Magnificat, thanking God for all blessings received for good times and even for bad times through which God protected us.  The faithfulness promised to God's people is also promised to each of us in our generation.

Let us pray:  Almighty and ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of Your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

A blessed Solemnity of Mary's Assumption to all of us. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!