Our Example and Hope - The Assumption of Mary

This Sunday we digress from our ordinal Sundays to contemplate the Assumption of Mary into heaven. In many ways this feast is a difficult one for us to celebrate because we can't identify its event with our own human experience. None of us has been immaculately conceived, and none of us will be assumed body and soul into heaven as Our Lady has received. How, then, are we to derive meaning and inspiration in our lives from this feast?

The first reading from the book of Revelation provides us with one possible connection. The woman in this reading has been identified both as a figure of the Church as well as of Mary. In this way we can see ourselves as children of Mary who experience the trials and struggles of life on earth with the constant attacks of the dragon all about us. At the same time, we can experience the peace and serenity of Mary and the Church as so united to the loving God that these trials seem unimportant as compared with the joy of holy fellowship with God and one another. While singularly privileged, Mary too experienced trials and struggles that she had to bear with patience and love.

Monsignor Ronald Knox gives us a very intimate idea of how we can relate to Mary's experiences and see our own in hers. He wrote, "Just as a traveler, gazing out to contemplate a vast panorama, seeks some human figure in his surroundings to bring the distant objects into perspective, so do we look towards God with amazement, but can identigy and welcome a purely human figure at the side of his throne. A ship has finished its passage, a destiny has been fulfilled, a human perfection has existed. Through her, his masterpiece, we see God's relations with humanity more clearly and with greater insight." (Sermon for the Feast of the Assumption, 1954)

Mary, too, provides us with an example to follow in the Gospel text for today's liturgy. Rather than dwell on her own blessings, she instead goes at once to visit her cousin Elizabeth in order to help her in her time of expectation. This scene provides us with much to admire: Mary came from Nazareth in Galilee, a place where poverty was the rule. She goes forth to Elizabeth's house which must have been one of greater means since her husband was high priest that year. God brings together rich and poor in the whole plan of salvation through Mary's selfless acceptance of God's will for her and through her immediate impulse of care for another. Mary's Magnificat echoes this radical equality of all God's children: she first thanks God for bestowing this gift to her, then celebrates God's leveling the playing field - the mighty will be brought low and the lowly will be brought high. The justice of God has finally come in the Messianic age.

By recognizing the gifts and vocation God has given us; by bearning with patience and love the trials and tribulations of this life; by caring for others and seeking the justice of God we can imitate Mary in our lives and come to the reward of heaven. The image of the traveler that Msgr. Knox gave fifty six years ago is in fact the reality of our lives. We are pilgrims on the journey to heaven, and while we follow Christ along the way we also have great saints who serve as landmarks on our pilgrimage. Mary stands as the first and greatest landmark in our pilgrimage. As we celebrate her singular gift of the Assumption, may we be filled with the hope that through her example and intercession we may join her and all the saints in the heavenly Jerusalem. Let our prayer along the way be that of the Church on this day: "Let us pray that with the help of Mary's prayers we too may reach our heavenly home. Father in heaven, all creation rightly gives you praise for all life and all holiness comes from you. In the plan of your wisdom she who bore the Christ in her womb was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven. May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness and join in her hymn of endless life and praise. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."