“In Christ shall all be brought to life, but each in proper order.” (1 Cor 15:22)

“He has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers.” (Lk:1:55) 

The Assumption of Mary into heaven is one of the oldest celebrations of Mary.  It is easily traced back to at least the 5th century and some historians say it was celebrated as far back as the 3rd century or before.  Yet it was not an official feast of the church until 1950 when Pope Pius XII announced it as “divinely revealed dogma” in the Bull Munificentissimus Deus. 

Some people have a problem with it because they question whether it is scripturally based.  Intuitively, I think it is the fulfillment of the Bible’s deepest themes…God’s promise to bring all to Him.  As Paul tells us today each of us will be brought to life in Christ in our proper time.

Mary is our true model of holiness.  In obscurity of faith, Mary accepts God’s plan (Lk 1:26-38).  Mary gives us Jesus (Lk 2:6-7).  Mary is filled with Jesus and brings him to others (Lk 1:41).  Mary accepts and lives the ‘prophecy of the sword’ (Lk 11:27-28).  Mary listens to God’s word and puts it into practice (Lk 1:27-28).  Mary lives both the intimacy and the hiddeness of Nazareth (Lk 2:51).  At Cana, Mary hastens Christ’s manifestation, begins her mediation with Him and shows us the way to salvation: “do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5).  Mary fulfills in herself the evangelical beatitudes of humility, meekness, mercy, sorrowing and single-heartedness (Mt 5:1-11).  Mary participates in the redemptive passion of her Son (Jn 19:25).  Mary stands beneath the Cross (Jn 19:25).  Mary accepts the motherhood of all humanity (Jn 19:27).  In prayer and total availability, Mary is receptive to the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2).  Mary lives in herself the full realization of the plan of salvation, that is, the participation in God’s life, in joy and light.

My reflections on Mary and her Assumption give me great hope that God’s promises will be fulfilled for me in their time.  Mary was fully human like me, yet because of her grace and holiness she has been able to realize God’s promise of the destiny of redeemed humanity immediately.  She witnesses to the future that is open to every human “to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light (Col 1:12).

Mary is available to us.  We can ask her for the grace to help us overcome our temptations.  She knows the Father’s plans and she can help us in discerning His plans for us.  She will assist us on our journey toward heaven.  We can pray with Mary…