Assumption of Mary: Of All Women the Most Blessed

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 15 August 2021

Readings: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6, 10; Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

(Icon of the Dormition by Theophan the Greek, 1392)

To listen to my audio reflections, please click here

1. Mary, a spirit-filled person of God

On this Sunday, August 15, we celebrate the beautiful feast of the Assumption. On this feast, we praise God who has taken the sinless Virgin Mary, body and soul, into His glory. From Christianity's earliest days the Christian community has celebrated the day on which Mary, the Mother of God entered heaven. Even though the death or Dormition of Mary is not recorded in the Christian canonical scriptures, yet since the 4th century, this feast is celebrated. The term Dormition expresses the belief that the Virgin died without suffering, in a state of spiritual peace. However, this belief does not rest on any scriptural basis but is affirmed by the Eastern Christian Holy Tradition. The Eastern Christians celebrate this event as "Dormition of the Mother of God", "falling asleep" (death) of Mary the Theotokos ("Mother of God"), and her being taken up into heaven (bodily assumption). Mary who said "yes" at her Annunciation, now with her glory into heaven her mission is being accomplished.  

The feast of the Assumption invites us to think about the effects of the resurrection on our life. In other words, it gives us the courage to say always "yes" to the Lord or God's calling.  Mary who followed God's Word in her life both word and action experiences the tremendous power of her Risen Son Jesus.  Mary is the perfect disciple of the Lord in every way. Mary is always blessed. St Luke the evangelist records the first experience of Elizabeth when she encounters Mary: "And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). Mary is indeed a spirit-filled person, with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, giving so much of love and affection to her relative. 

2. Just like Mary carrying the joy of the Gospel

We honour Mother Mary as a woman of "all women the most blessed." (Luke 1:42). Mary is not only a bearer of the incarnate Word of God, but also gifts her Son for the salvation of all. The awesome passage that we have on this day Luke 1:39-56 is full of joy, praises and surprises. Her hymn of praise, the Magnificat is an embodiment of who truly she is, a handmaid of God, a person who always seeks and remains in God her saviour. This was all possible because Mary nurtured within her God sense or God's presence deep within her. Therefore she could nurture her child Jesus in the mission that he was called to do. We too are called to nurture, nourish and nurse the Word of God in our lives so that we can participate in her Son's mission wholeheartedly. As a result, carrying in our hearts the joy of the Gospel, we may give to others the same joy wholeheartedly and fully.  

Mary is truly a woman of grace. Being an ordinary person she was graced by God extraordinarily for her readiness and commitment to the Word of God. She is truly a model for us in our own little ways to accept the will of God. By following in her earthly life we may truly follow her into heaven as well. In the words of Pope Francis: ‘On the cross, Christ led us to Mary!’ and ‘He brought us to her, because he did not want us to journey without a mother’ (Evangelii Gaudium 285-288). We might ask this question: How can we follow Mary's example? How does she motivate us?  As the Gospel says as soon as Mary heard the message from the Angel Gabriel, she "set out as quickly as she could" to visit Elizabeth and assist in her childbearing process (Luke 1: 39).

3. In Mary we are placed with her Son

Mary is a person who lived the Gospel to the full. In other words, she is the fulfilment of the Gospel. The Book of Revelation reads for us: "And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery" (Revelation 12:1-2). At Mary’s Assumption, as we see in Revelation, the queen, Mary once again takes her place at the right hand of the Son of David. In fact, Mary is the vessel of God's untiring presence. For she is the queen mother, who sits and reigns in splendour with Jesus her son. 

Fascinatingly this rich symbolic imagery that we find in the book of Revelation, opens up God's temple in heaven and the Ark of the Covenant revealed. As we see in Israel’s history, the Ark, the most sacred item had been missing since the Temple’s destruction in 586 B.C. Now for John, the sacred vessel is a woman, who is the mother of the royal Son of David, the Messiah. St Paul tells the Corinthians that “in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order” (1 Cor 15:27). Pope Francis says, in Mary we find ‘humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong, who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves (E.G. 288). In a world where humility and tenderness are in short supply, Mother Mary is courage for us to follow. She ‘walks as a true mother at our side, sharing our struggles and opening our hearts to faith, surrounding us with God’s love’.  What is clear here is the consummation of Christ’s work has begun, as is proper, with the Assumption of the queen mother. May we, in our own ways, continue Heavenly Mother's role of bringing joy into our world.

Questions for Reflections:
1. What are those qualities of Mary that you like most?
2. Have you been tested like Mary to say "yes" to God's Will?

3. Do you feel like Mary to serve others when you are full of joy?

Prayer: 

Mary, Queen of Heaven, intercede for us with your Son, that we too may be blessed, and make present the Living Word in our lives. Holy God, we pray to be filled with your Holy Spirit for the rest of this day. Let us go forth, walking with your Spirit in our hearts, that we may be filled with the joy and energy and praise for your entire creation, thankful in the many gifts you have given us, and showing forth your light in our every word and deed just like Mother Mary. This we pray in Christ’s name, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

August 14, 2021