Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mass during the Day) - Aug 15, 2021 Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab / Psalm 45 / 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 / Luke 1: 39-56
I have always appreciated the uplifting tone and sense of encouragement given by St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, especially as found in verse 6 of the first chapter: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Those are not just the Apostle’s sentiments, but the clear-minded acknowledgement that God knows what he is doing for our good and the fulfillment of his holy will.
While many might wonder about the meaning of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul, into heaven, God knew and knows his purpose and intention in such a glorious occurrence in the life of she who is the mother of Jesus Christ and our mother as well.
The introductory message for today found in the Magnificat monthly missalette expresses the wishes of St. Paul and the timeless, read eternal, significance of today’s solemnity: “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven reveals that what God begins, he brings to completion.”¹
At first glance, one might consider the Assumption to be the culmination of Mary’s “Fiat” and earthly mission. However, more importantly, the Assumption is the blossoming of the fruit first planted by God in her Immaculate Conception. While that great divine intervention in our history took place in the discreet confines of the womb that held the Virgin, God was beginning the process of making his love for humanity real and visible.
“What God does, he brings to completion,” but not in the sense of a process or person coming to a conclusion. What God does and wills always has continual and eternal significance and impact. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother was not a “one and done,” but how the Almighty’s plan of salvation unfolded and began its course through humanity.
The Assumption, in a sense, had to happen. Caryll Houselander, the 20th Century Catholic writer from England sums it up well for us: “We know that her body was taken to heaven, for God would not let corruption touch the flesh from which Christ’s body was made.”²
Our Lady’s sinless conception was destined to bear more fruit in her life and destiny. Without sin holding back her true humanity, the Virgin Mary is fully disposed to receive the Lord’s eternal promises. Without sin holding her back, our Mother is able to experience the eternal newness, which is union with Christ, the fruit of her womb.
Ah, there we have it: Today’s celebration is a stunning, yet peaceful reminder us of the beauty, coherence and unity found in our doctrine of our faith, a living Tradition. We are talking about a reminder of Christ our hope and, in union with the Blessed Mother, our destiny.
It might be easy to take such insights for granted, but our Blessed Mother reveals with humility and purpose the significance of God’s plans in our lives and how we are able to glorify him by humbly opening ourselves to his will as she did. In other words, to place our lives at God’s service; to trust that God is doing good, not in theory, but in our lives and in our Church.
We might not ever understand the significance of his will while on this earth nor know completely how things will unfold, but Christ called the Beloved Disciple to care for his mother and he calls us to look to her for continual care and guidance to follow her son’s way.
In all that occurs in the life of our Holy Mother, the Lord God is up to something: our Salvation. The Virgin Mary’s joyful experience of eternal grace, body and soul, in heaven and the promise of our redemption.
Let us always remember that her joy is a trustworthy source of true gladness. Why? How? Because in today’s solemnity God’s plan might appear to affect only one person, the Virgin Mary, but the fruit is for us and all humanity.
Ad Jesus per Maria! Fr. Charles Johnson, O.P.
Notes:
¹ Editor, Introduction, Mass of the Day, August 15, 2021 (Magnificat, August 2021), 196.
² Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God (Allen, TX: Christian Classics, Thomas More Publishing, 1976), 125.