Walking with Jesus: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

How am I living these days? Today’s readings emphasize over and over the divine virtue of hope. Mary is silhouetted as a model of hope in God’s eternal plan for all of His creation. She trusted that God’s word to her would happen. She would bring forth the Savior of the world. This had never happened before. She really didn’t comprehend what the Messiah would be. She probably wondered quietly within herself how she would raise this child to be the Messiah. She had never been a mother … she had vowed herself to be a virgin completely dedicated to God … now she is to give birth to the Messiah. Did she wonder how she would continue her daily life and devotions? Each of us has been chosen as Mary was. We have been commissioned to be a sign of God’s love, care, forgiveness and mercy to the world we live in. How often do we think about this? How often do I think about this? What changes have I made in my daily activities to be aware of my living according to God’s plan?

The bottom line is plain: Our lives belong to God. We have been called, as Mary was, to live according to God’s will that all are called to heaven … each person has a home in heaven with the Father, the Son, the Spirit … all the angels and saints … all of our family and loved ones who have lived according to God’s plan. The bottom line is to live according to God’s plan. How am I doing this today? Am I putting off to tomorrow what I should be doing today? Do I realize that the choices are heaven or hell; nothing in between? Do I realize that God already has arranged everything I need and made it all available to me? The readings simplify living God’s plan.

John’s Book of Revelation today gives a vivid depiction of the remarkable events in God’s plan. John shares his vision of the woman and the dragon, which focuses on the power of evil symbolized by Satan, who opposes both God and God’s people. Satan’s power is described as formidable and very destructive, but in the end, he does not gain victory. The woman in his perception, made more beautiful by the lights of heaven, represents Israel which is about to give birth to the Messiah. She represents the fulfillment of those promises in Mary who has given birth to Jesus. In no way does Satan want this to happen; he calls on all his blocking powers to prevent this. But God rescues the child, the mother and God’s people who are terrorized by evil. The huge dragon, Satan, uses all his resources to interfere with God’s saving word. Even though God’s plan can be resisted, it cannot be halted. The reading that follows these events shows the battle that breaks out in heaven where Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his angels and defeat them and they are thrown down to Earth. [Revelation 12:7-18]

Paul shares with the Corinthians that all of God’s children are subject to death. Some have been claiming that there is no resurrection after death. Paul responds that if there is no resurrection, Christ was not raised from the dead; if this is the case, then we have no hope. [1 Corinthians 15:12-29] But Christ has been raised. We, who belong to Christ, will be next to be raised, and finally all will be raised when Christ comes into His kingdom. [Matthew 25:31-46]

Luke gives the account of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth: the Visitation. We are listening to two prophetic exclamations: Mary is praising God and announcing what God is doing, and Elizabeth’s greeting focuses on Mary’s “blessedness” since she is the “mother of my Lord” and also because Mary has believed what God has spoken … she trusts in the Lord. We have to remember that Mary’s plan for her future has been totally interrupted. She never dreamed of a marriage or giving birth. She never dreamed that Simeon’s prophecy would come true: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” [Luke 2:34-35] We are born to live, to experience love, joy, happiness, daily interruptions and sadness, and finally, when we die and leave our world, to life forever with God who is love itself. We prepare for this each time we come to Mass to be reunited with Christ through the Eucharist so that we can be a living presence of God’s love to our world. Our lives are filled with faith, trust and love because we are loved first and forever by God. Are we living accordingly?

So I reflect on:

• Many have a problem with heaven … they believe it but don’t believe it. What difference would it make to our lives if we regained a robust sense of blessed eternity?
• Today’s feast of the Assumption … Mary in heaven … gives us a foretaste of redemption. What does it mean for our human dignity that all created matter will one day be drawn to God?
  

Sacred Space 2021 states:

“There is no false humility in Mary’s tremendous prayer. There is the true humility of knowing that all that is being accomplished in her is being accomplished by God, ‘for the Mighty One has done great things for me.’ Mary makes no effort to minimize this greatness. She accepts it —fully, joyfully, and expectantly. Her great song of praise is a glorious expression of Mary’s hope.

“I ask You, Lord, to give me Mary’s confidence and generosity of spirit. I ask not just to listen to Your voice and do Your will but also to do it joyfully and fearlessly. I want to answer Your call with an exultant 'Yes!' secure in the knowledge that, as I move into the unknown, my journey will be made radiant by Your transfiguring presence, and that, as the Psalmist foretold, ‘Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.’” [Psalm 45:10]