Today on the church’s liturgical calendar, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary – the unique Catholic teaching that Mary did not pass away as we will.
Instead, the Mother of our Lord simply “fell asleep” and was assumed – body, soul and spirit – into the heavens created for her (and us) by God.
When we die after living a life deemed worthy by our Lord, we too will make that journey. The difference is our bodies will remain on earth and eventually return to the soil – ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Or Dust in the Wind, if you’re a fan of the group Kansas.
In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared in a rare infallible teaching that as Catholics, we must believe that Mary’s sinless body suffered no decay. It’s not that there was a huge outcry against this. The ex cathedra dogmatic teaching was merely reinforcing the commonly held belief of the Church, going back many, many years.
Why is Mary’s Assumption so important to our understanding of our faith?
Well, think about what – or better yet, WHO – once lived in her body. Mary bore the baby Jesus within her womb. Jesus, the “new covenant” our Lord made with us. The baby with flesh and spirit that could heal, perform miracles, save a world.
Flesh of a child that continues to nourish His people through the Eucharist.
Now think about how the original covenant was treated. The Ark. The perfectly designed and exquisitely built box that contained the Ten Commandments. At the time, this Ark was the sustaining force that held a people together.
In today’s Vigil Mass readings, we get a glimpse of the respect given to the original Ark …
The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD. David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kinsmen as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it. Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
The Ark was precious. It could only be touched by certain people. An entire nation of Jews, the Levites, were specifically chosen to carry it. Its presence was celebrated with music. Sacrifice to God was offered up in its presence.
I think of these powerful images whenever I see Mary honored by processing her image through the streets with music and passionate expressions of love. As the woman who bore the Christ child, she was the new Ark … and is treated with the same respect.
The original Ark has never been found, other than in the fictional movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I think does a pretty good job exploring the fear and glory of the old box.
The new Ark has also not been found. There is no burial place for Mary. Her bones have not become relics. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
Where is Mary, the new Ark?
Today’s Mass during the day readings tells us …
“God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.”
Mary indeed is in heaven.
And though we talk often that she “fell asleep” as she left our world, that does not mean she is “sleeping on the job.” No, Mary continues to intercede for us with her Son, advocating on our behalf, listening to our cries and providing us with assurances that one day we will join her in salvation.
Mary is often described as the Mother of our Church. As children, when we are in pain and anguish, where else but our mothers do we run?
Which brings us to this wonderful prayer, taken straight out of the Gospel of Luke.
Mary speaks … (we echo) …
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”
