Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Meseret Defar provided one of the most emotional moments of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games when she crossed the finish line in the 5000 meter race to win the gold. In her victory jog she bore the Virgin Mary as an icon of gratitude.
On this Solemnity of the Assumption, we honor the Mother of God. May we have the occasional audacity to honor her as boldly as Meseret, making known the truth that Mary is (and desires for us) all we hope to become.
I had chills watching the end of this race and her emotion as she pulled out her icon….couldn’t believe NBC didn’t pull away, my girls said “Mom, that’s Mary!”. Great chills!
We had precisely the same reaction, and it was our girls who came running to tell me! Love that.