MARY’S ASSUMPTION: THE FULFILMENT OF ALL GOD’S PROMISES
(A biblical reflection on the feast of THE OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY – Sunday, 12 August 2012)
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-56
First Reading: Rev 11:19;12:1-6,10; Psalms: Ps 45:10-12,16; Second Reading: 1Cor 15:20-26
The Scripture Text
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has regarded the low estate of His hand maiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm, He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. (Lk 1:39-56 RSV)
In Mary’s assumption, we can see the fulfilment of all God’s promises – first to Mary and then to all of God’s people. Mary shared in Jesus’ victory over the grave, tasting first what is available to all of us: “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ” (1Cor 15:54). Mary was taken up to heaven, preserved by God from the corruption of the grave; like Jesus, she overcame death and was raised body and soul to heaven.
God blessed Mary with this extraordinary favour because she had “believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Lk 1:45). She trusted in God’s promises despite being found with child before her marriage; despite the difficult circumstance of delivering a child in a cave, outcast and unwanted; despite having to flee to Egypt with her newborn; despite watching her Son die an unjust death. Through all these trials, Mary remained faithful to what God had spoken to her, unwavering in her faith as she came to know more deeply God’s love for her and for all people.
We can rejoice because that same trust, obedience, and knowledge of God are available to us. “His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (Lk 1:50) – right down to our day. In His love, God helps us to trust and obey Him in the ordinary demands of our days and in the unexpected trials of our lives. Every day He wants to come to us, to speak to us, to help us to recognize and receive His grace.
Let us thank God that we can know His love more deeply every day; that He will always have mercy on us, always help us to trust in Him. May what God has done for the humble and lowly throughout history – including today – arouse gratitude and joy in us. And may Elizabeth’s words be applied to us as well: “Blessed are they who believe and trust in the Lord’s promises” (see Lk 1:45).
Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the assumption of Mary, You demonstrated the ultimate fulfilment of all Your promises to us. May we always believe Your word, embracing in every situation the new life poured out through Jesus’ death on the cross. May we trust in Your mercy and come to know Your love for us more deeply. Amen.
MARY’S ASSUMPTION is a reminder to each of us that our home is in heaven. We belong there. We have a visa that no one can cancel. As we go our round of duties, with headaches and backaches mingled with laughter and tears, our Heavenly Mother’s bodily assumption recalls to our minds that our bodies and souls are destined for immortality. As St. Paul put it: “this corruptible body must put on incorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” Mary’s glorification in heaven is a promise and a pledge that our bodies, too, will rise glorified with new vigor and vitality undreamed of in this world.