Homilies

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION marks the end of Mary’s life here on earth. Upon the completion of her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven as the fulfillment of her destiny which she achieved by remaining faithful to God’s plan and will.

It is good to recall how the Blessed Virgin Mary lived her life here on earth:

First, Mary cooperated with the plan of God to save humanity. She was obedient to the will of God. On Angel Gabriel’s announcement, she told the angel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word.” Mary could have followed her own will, but she realized that obeying God’s will is greater and prior to her own. Obeying the will of God gave her also a sense of freedom.

Second, Mary is also a woman of the Word. She keeps the word of God in her heart. When Jesus was lost and was found in the temple, she heard those seemingly insulting words of Jesus, “Why are you looking for me? Don’t you know that I am doing business in my Father’s house?” When she heard these, she was never indignant, but as the gospel describes, Mary kept those words and reflected on them as Jesus lived with them in Nazareth.

Third, in the gospel we heard, Mary was a woman of service. Despite her being pregnant, she went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth because she wanted to be and to serve her. There was a sense of urgency, so, she traveled to the place of Elizabeth. She was altruistic. She forgot about her own needs, and considered the needs of her cousin who was already old when she got pregnant. That is the essence of true service. It is to get out of one’s world, and enter the world of others.

Through these instances or events, Mary shows us that the road to blessedness is not simply her being the Mother of God. But true blessedness can be found in our fidelity to cooperating to the will of God, in our fidelity to obey and keep the Word of God, and in our fidelity to serve others. Some would describe that Mary’s Assumption to heaven is a reward as servant of the Word of God. She is being honored for her accomplishment here on earth.

Finally, the Assumption of Mary offers us hope. Where she has gone we hope to follow. Mary reminds us of our future life with God. She reminds us that our future is bright because we would be in communion with God. It is a future that at times we tend to forget because of the business and cares of this world. It is a future that we must always look forward to.

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