Some years ago, when cell phones began to appear, I was sitting in an airport and watched a young man having a heated conversation with “the air.” He seemed to be talking to nobody. At the same time, I noticed a small device in his ear which later I learned was a wireless communication gadget that connected to his cell phone. Those in the know thought nothing of what this young man was doing.
I wonder if a walk through an airport praying aloud to God and wearing a wireless device in my ear what people might think. If it is acceptable to talk aloud in public to “the air,” wouldn’t it make sense to talk to God the same way?
What does wireless communication have to do with the feast of the Assumption which we celebrate today? Now that Mary is in heaven there are no restrictions in our communication with her. This makes “wireless” look outdated. While she was on earth, there is not doubt that hundreds of Christians went to Mary for prayer, consolation, and counsel. She must have worn herself out being a mother to so many of the early Christians. Now she can be a mother to millions of Christians and not get tired.
We celebrate today by singing with Mary her great hymn of praise, the “Magnificat” (Luke 1:39-56).
“My soul proclaims the greatest 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 have called me blessed.”
Apart from God’s favor Mary was but a lowly servant living in a “nowhere” town in the hill country of Galilee. She was at the bottom of the social ladder. Yet when God touched her womb she became a queen, the mother of the King of kings. To this day she is honored millions of times a day as her “Hail Mary” is recited by humble Catholics throughout the world. If you check it out, you will be amazed at the number of singing artists, both religious and secular, who have recorded her “Ave Maria.” Truly all generations have and will always call her blessed.
And she is not the only one called blessed. Each of us, being her sons and daughters are also called blessed because we are special children of the Queen of heaven and earth. Any low self-esteem problems we might have will evaporate if we drink in this truth about ourselves.
“The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.”
The greatest work God ever did was to plant his own Son in the womb of Mary. What greater news could we imagine than the fact that the Word became flesh and dwells among us. And because of her cooperation with the saving power of God all generations have access to what humans need more than anything else—the mercy of God.
Today is also called the feast of the “Dormition of Mary.” It is believed that she died, just as Jesus did, was buried and rose from the dead—assumed into heaven. Now that she is in heaven she is no longer restricted by the limits of time and space. She is standing next to us right now waiting for us to call upon her.
The Almighty will also do great things for each of us according to the measure that we get closer to our Mother.
