Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is one of the most important and perhaps most misunderstood of all of the saints. For many, Mary is a holy vessel, who we honor as the Mother of God who birthed Jesus the Messiah into our world. For others, Mary represents the reason as to why they think Catholics are not Christians. In other words some people think Catholics worship Mary.
The imagery in the book of Revelation chosen for today’s reading can helps us understand Mary’s role. Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant who brings Jesus to birth. Mary is the bearer of the son of God. Mary mirrors back to us what we are all called to do. How do we bear Christ in our bodies? Consider whether your words and actions mirror Christ in a way that brings him to birth.
Mary mirrored faithful discipleship throughout her whole life. Ultimately, she watched her son our Lord, suffer death and be buried. Yet the grave could not contain Christ. He rose again and ascended to God. Today’s feast celebrates that Mary survived the grave and was assumed into heaven. Mary gave her whole being over to the will of God. Do we give our whole being over to God?
Mary’s assumption mirrors for us what we believe will happen for us: “the resurrection of the body.” The point of Mary’ Assumption and today’s celebration is certainly to honor Mary and recognize what has happened through her. Yet what is more important is that we understand that it is her model of faithful discipleship that we are called to mirror. Like Mary we too are called to mirror Christ faithfully to all we meet. The feast challenges us to consider more deeply that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that how we live affects our participation in the resurrection of the dead.
Good and gracious God,
You loved the world so much that you sent Mary as a model of discipleship. Help us to live faithfully so that our words and deeds mirror the greatness of the Lord and our spirits forever rejoice in God our Savior.
Amen!
-Michael Montgomery