What a beautiful day to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a very special celebration for a very special Lady. When a lot of Catholics think of Mary though, they think of a pious, delicate young lady surrounded by puffy white clouds and little cherub angels floating all around her. In our minds, Mary is a gentle, tender-hearted young mother who carefully watches over all of us, who are her children. She is beautiful, kind and loving and the angel Gabriel said she was full of grace. We yearn to sit at her feet, to just be in her presence and feel the warmth of her love.
What an awesome mother Mary must have been for baby Jesus. Mary found favor with God and He chose her to be the mother of His son for a reason. Mary is the most perfect of all the women who have ever lived on the earth. She wasn’t just loving and kind, she was also obedient. God could trust her. Mary unknowingly proved to God that she would be obedient to Him, by how she was obedient to her parents when she was a little girl. We still view Mary as having the purity and innocence of a little child, because she was conceived without sin.
This view of Mary contrasts sharply with the first reading for mass today from the book of Revelations. The readings portray Mary with great power, glory and strength. Mary is described as being clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and she wore a crown of twelve stars. Many Catholics believe Mary had no pain when she gave birth to baby Jesus, but the reading from the book of Revelations explains otherwise. The devil appeared right during the height of her labor pains. He wanted to devour her child as soon as it was born, but after the baby was born she fled to the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God.
In reality, Mary was neither timid or overly meek. She showed great inner strength when she said “yes” to God. Mary knew she could have been stoned to death for being found with a child out of wedlock and she still said “yes” to God. That is why she is the greatest of all saints and is now the Queen of Heaven.
The gospel today is just absolutely beautiful too. Can’t you just picture a young 14 year old Jewish girl walking in the countryside to visit her cousin Elizabeth? Her mind was surely occupied during every step of her journey, but also in her prayers. Mary probably prayed along the way and she was filled with the Holy Spirit when she arrived at Elizabeth’s home. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb recognized the presence of God immediately. All human life is sacred, most especially the unborn babies that thrive in secret, in their mother’s womb. They are made in the image and likeness of God and deserve to be protected and celebrated too.
The Magnificat of Mary, is truly a beautiful prayer, that we read in today’s gospel. There are no words that we can add to her praise. All we can do is just agree with her. Mary’s soul did magnify the Lord, and we are still rejoicing with her. All generations have called her blessed, and will continue to do so until the end of time. She shares with us God’s nature and His love for her, but also His love for us. God is faithful to us and will be faithful for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well, as long as we obey His commandments. Mary tells us in the Magnificat that important people in our world do not necessarily mean they are more important to God than us. God loves the common, the lowly and the meek people of the world. And it is only fair that justice will be served one day, it may be in heaven before we see this happen but there is no doubt God will make things right one day. God forgives our sins and is not a harsh Father, but a kind and loving and compassionate Father. He keeps His promises. God kept His promises to all the generations that came before us, and He will keep His promises to us as well.
Like Mary, we do not need to be afraid of anything. No matter what happens, God will take care of us and Jesus will be with us until the end of our days. Mary was assumed into heaven and lives now in glory in our Father’s kingdom, with her son Jesus by her side. When we go there one day, we will finally get to meet them, and what a joyful time that will be.
