From the colours of our flag to the colours of Mary’s heavenly glory.”

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : Nineteenth Week:  Saturday*

*Gospel :  Luke 1 :39 - 56*

*First Reading : Rev 11:19 - 12: 1-6, 10*

*Responsorial Psalm : 45:10-16*

*Second Reading : 1 Cor 15:20-27*

*“From the colours of our flag to the colours of Mary’s heavenly glory.”*

*1) 🟠 Saffron — Courage, Sacrifice and Mary’s “Yes”*

Saffron Color in the Flag can remind us of courage, sacrifice and self-giving.

Mary’s life was a life of courageous yes.

At the Annunciation, she said yes without knowing the whole future.

She accepted the uncertainty of Bethlehem.

She stood beneath the Cross when others had disappeared.

She offered not merely something to God—she offered herself.

The Assumption tells us that a life given to God is never wasted.

Mary teaches us: Courage begins when we say “Yes” to God, even before we understand everything.

Her Assumption is the celebration of a woman whose earthly journey of sacrifice ends in the fullness of life with God.

We often want resurrection without sacrifice, glory without the Cross, success without surrender. Mary shows another way:

Surrender → Sacrifice → Faithfulness → Glory.

*2) ⚪ White — Peace and Truth*

White in the Flag can remind us of peace and truth.

This connects beautifully with Jesus' words: “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” — John 8:31–32

Mary is a woman who lived in the truth. She did not construct a false image of herself. She knew who she was before God: “I am the servant of the Lord.”

Mary's greatness was not in saying, “I am important.” Her greatness was in saying, “I belong to God.”

And this is precisely the truth Jesus speaks about. Truth is not merely knowing facts.

Biblical truth is discovering:

Who am I?

Whose am I?

For what am I created?

Mary knew the answer:

“I am God's servant; my life belongs to God.”

And that truth gave her freedom.

The connection is profound: Truth → Freedom → Faithfulness → Peace → Glory.

The Assumption therefore tells us that the person who lives in God's truth is already beginning to live heaven on earth.

*3) 🟢 Green — Life, Growth and Nature*

Green in the flag reminds us of life, growth and creation.

Mary's life was a life of continuous spiritual growth.

She grew: in faith, in wisdom, in courage, in understanding, in discipleship.

The Gospel says that Mary “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

She was not spiritually stagnant. The Assumption is the completion of Mary's growth.

The seed that was planted in Nazareth became a tree of faith.

The child she carried in her womb became the Saviour of the world.

The woman who walked the dusty roads of Galilee becomes the woman who shares in the glory of heaven.

So green can give us this message: God does not merely want us to exist; God wants us to grow.

A Christian life must always be growing: Growing in truth. Growing in love. Growing in holiness. Growing in compassion. Growing closer to Christ.

The Assumption asks us: “Am I growing spiritually, or am I simply growing older?”

*4) 🔵 Blue — The Sky, the Ocean and the Depth of God*

Blue in the Flag can evoke the vastness of the sky and the depth of the ocean.

It gives us a beautiful image for Mary's Assumption.

Look at the sky: there is no visible boundary.

Look at the ocean: there is an immeasurable depth.

This can remind us of the mystery of God.

Mary's Assumption tells us: Human life has a destiny greater than what our eyes can see.

Our earthly existence is not the final chapter.

We come from God, we journey through this world, and we are called to eternal communion with God.

Mary has already entered that destiny. Mary becomes a sign of our future.

Her Assumption is not only about where Mary is. It is also about where humanity is called to be.

She reminds us: 

Earth is not our final home. 

Death is not our final destination.

The grave does not have the last word.

God has the last word.

*5) 🔵 Ashoka Chakra — Mary’s Journey of Faith: Christ at the Centre, Always Moving Toward Heaven*

*A) The Wheel Symbolizes Movement* : The Ashoka Chakra reminds us that life is a journey, not a destination. A wheel is meaningful because it moves; likewise, Christian life requires continual spiritual movement.

*B) Mary’s Life Was a Journey* : Mary continually moved in faith: Nazareth → Bethlehem → Egypt → Galilee → Jerusalem → Calvary → Early Church → Heaven. Every stage brought her closer to God and deeper into His plan.

*C) Christian Life Requires Continuous Growth* : We cannot say: “I have believed enough.” “I have prayed enough.” “I have changed enough.” There must always be movement:

Fear → Faith

Selfishness → Service

Sin → Holiness

Ignorance → Truth

Earth → Heaven

*D) The Centre Determines the Direction* : A wheel needs a centre to move properly. Similarly, our life needs the right centre. What is at the centre of my life? Money? Career? Popularity? Technology? Power? Comfort? Or Christ?

*E) Mary Had God at the Centre* : Mary's life had one centre: God and His will. Because God was at the centre, every movement of her life was directed toward Him.

*F) The Assumption — The Completion of the Journey* : Mary's Assumption is the fulfilment of her earthly journey of faith. She kept moving toward God until her earthly pilgrimage reached its heavenly destination.

*6) “The Truth Will Make You Free” — Mary as an Example*

John 8:31–38 gives us another powerful dimension.

Jesus says: “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The world often gives us another definition of freedom: “I am free when I can do whatever I want.”

Jesus gives a deeper definition: “I am free when I know who I am and live according to the truth of God.”

Mary is a perfect example. She was free enough to say: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

Her freedom was not: “I will do whatever I want.” Her freedom was: “I am free to surrender myself completely to God.”

That is true freedom.

Mary was free from:

the need for human applause,

the fear of suffering,

selfish ambition,

attachment to worldly greatness,

the desire to control God's plan.

Therefore, she could say Yes to God.

*7) A Powerful Contrast: False Freedom vs True Freedom*

The world says: Freedom = I can do what I want.

Jesus says: Freedom = I can live according to the truth.

Mary shows: Freedom = I can surrender myself to God's will.

And therefore: Truth does not imprison Mary. Truth liberates Mary.

Her “Yes” was not a limitation. Her “Yes” became her liberation.

And eventually that faithful “Yes” led her to the fullness of life in heaven.

The Assumption of Mary is therefore not only a feast about Mary's destination; it is a reminder of our destination. We too are created not merely for this earth, but for heaven.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*