Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary calls upon us to place our focus on God who has done marvellous deeds in the person of Mary, the Mother of God. It is a celebration of the generosity of God, as beautifully captured by Pope Pius XII in the title of the document that proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption, “ The Most Bountiful God”.
God, in his infinite generosity made it possible that “the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.
In Mary, we see God placing the ultimate enemy, death, under his feet. As Paul indicates in the letter to the Corinthians: “Lastly, the enemy called death shall be destroyed. For he has subjected all things under his feet” (1 Cor 15:26).
The Assumption is thus a feast that gives hope to all , that we too will conquer death and be raised into heavenly glory on account of the bountiful generosity of God. This hope, dear brothers and sisters, does not disappoint (Cf. Rom 5:5).
As indicated, the focus is on God and we observe what God is doing as we take a closer look at the gospel reading. The action takes place in the house of the priest Zechariah, in the region of Judah. Luke clearly delineates the story with Mary arising and travelling quickly to a city of Judah and at the end returning to her home, i.e. Nazareth in Galilee.
Joining Mary in the story is Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah and relative of Mary, John the Baptist, with both Zechariah and Jesus present but remaining in the background. The Holy Spirit is instrumental in pushing the narrative forward as it acts through both Mary and Elizabeth.
We have already been introduced to Mary, by now overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. The motive of the journey to Judah is not stated. Some authors have suggested that the motive of going to Judah is to confirm the vocation, that she has indeed been called to be the Mother of the Saviour. In this sense, her encounter with the angel at the annunciation resembles a prophetic calling.
A prophetic calling always sees the prophet initially saying no to God. The most notorious among the prophets to say no to God should be Moses. He said no on multiple occasions.
If we place Mary’s encounter with the angel in the context of a prophetic call, it thus makes sense that she needs a sign to assist her understand better this vocation. Confirmation of the call is in the sign, that Elizabeth, in her old age, is with child. God’s marvellous works are visible in Elizabeth’s pregnancy and thus Mary’s vocation begins to take shape as well.
Yes, Mary is a prophet par-excellence as she reveals the Eternal Word of the Father. Mary magnifies the Lord as the first line in her song indicates, “my soul magnifies the Lord”. She makes the Lord appear bigger. Every prophet has to make the Lord bigger. John the Baptist expresses it well when he says; “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30).
Elizabeth, on her part, is filled with the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit in charge, she is able to recognise what God has done in Mary. Mary is blessed among women and she carries a blessed fruit. Furthermore, Mary is described as the Mother of the Lord and also as one who has believed. The verb “believe” is important because it sets Mary in the line of Abraham, our father in the faith. Abraham believed and it was reckoned to him unto righteousness (Cf. Gen 15:7).
Mary, having believed, brings joy as she carries the eternal Word of the Father to the city of Judah. Joy abounds in the house of the priest Zechariah with John the Baptist leaping for joy and Mary singing, “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour”.
The Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary allows us to catch a glimpse of the wonderful works of God in history. There is plenty of joy in the house of Zechariah, just as there should be plenty of joy as we celebrate the Assumption. It should fill us with joy that at the end of our lives on earth we have the real possibility of being united with God in his heavenly glory.
We all have the duty to reflect on our lives and recognise how God has accompanied us in the journey of life and especially his generosity. God can do infinitely far more than we can ask or imagine (Cf. Eph 3:20). He will raise our mortal bodies and make them shine in glory in the manner of Mary assumed into heaven.
May this feast therefore fill us with hope that indeed the promises of God are real and will be achieved by all the children of God.