The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of great joy and hope for us to reflect on. Our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1. Cor 15) reminds us that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” It is fitting then that Mary, as one of us in every way with the exception that she was preserved from the stain of original sin by God’s sanctifying grace (CCC 493) should naturally be assumed into heaven body and soul and not await the last day of final judgement (CCC 1038). The reading from Revelation chapter 11, verse 19 and chapter 12 in which Mary is representative of the ark and Queen of heaven who vanquishes the dragon (Satan/sin, etc) is an awesome image to contemplate. In one sense we can look at the Ark as a boat that carried Noah and his family/creatures with that covenant. Another Ark is a box carrying the Ten Commandments given to Moses. Mary, however, carries Jesus in her womb who brings forth a new covenant. Mary is a most holy vessel that God has chosen as a different and most unique ark. We like Mary are chosen when we are baptized, confirmed and receive our spiritual nourishment of Jesus in the Eucharist as holy arks and temples of the Lord. As Saint Paul reminds us, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit in which the Holy Spirit wishes to dwell and our bodies our not our own (1 Cor. 6:19). We should keep this in mind on our earthly journey with the hope that we too will be glorified one day as saints destined for greatness! Our trust and hope to one day have holy and glorified bodies that are free from imperfections, frailties and weakness will come to fruition in which Christ Jesus will come again to raise the dead is His promise to us faithful. While it may be a struggle for some in which our bodies get old, don’t work the way they used to or have imperfections; we should not lose our faith. Jesus suffered greatly on the cross at Calvary and sacrificed his body to fulfill the new covenant made to all of us in which there is the promise of a Resurrection Day. Our eternal souls will be united with our glorious, holy and perfect body on this day and Mary is the great exemplar of this promise.
The Gospel reading from Luke and Mary’s Magnificat in visiting her cousin Elizabeth in which her baby leapt at Mary’s greeting can be summed up with “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk. 1:46-47). Let us reflect on this mystery of the Assumption and not take for granted the part of the Apostle’s Creed proclaiming the resurrection of the body. Truly, Mary is the Queen that stands on the Lord’s right hand, arrayed in gold per the responsorial psalm 45.
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
StreetEvangelist 