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Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church |
Homily Archives | |
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Feast of the
Assumption
No. 10 Fr. Carl McCarthy August 15, 2006 This Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, rising into heaven is called the Assumption…Interesting name, but it is more then just an assumption. Did you know that no explicit biblical chapter or verse exists to support for us Mary’s assumption, her rising body and soul into heaven. But for this woman, who carried the Divine Son of God in her womb, who gave birth to our salvation, this feast in honor of her rising to heaven is the most logical conclusion to her life story. So in the end, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven, which was solemnly declared on November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII, defines the teaching and the deep faith of our Church.  So what happened to Mary before she was assumed into heaven? Legends about Mary prior to this faith event abound. One, we have come to call the “Dormition of Mary.” This legend claims that, at her death, Mary really did not die; instead, she fell asleep and, from that sleep state, was taken into heaven, body and soul. Another legend states that, 2 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, he appeared again to her and told her that, in 3 days, she would be assumed into heaven – an event similar to the three days before he rose from the dead. And so, in those remaining days, she gathered the disciples, she kissed the beloved disciple John, who had been with her at Jesus’ death, and told them all goodbye. Then she was assumed into the glory of the kingdom to be with her divine Son. Exaggerated or not, true or untrue, legend or fact, all of these stories reflect the high regard in which Mary is held. For, from the moment of her conception Mary was set apart by God and instilled with the Holy Spirit to be the mother of God’s Son. This divine relationship with God is shown even as she travels to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth’s home. She and Elizabeth greet one another, and the child Elizabeth carries, John the Baptist, jumps within her womb. The behavior of her unborn child serves as a certain sign for Elizabeth, as she encounters the pregnant Mary, that she stands in the presence of the Savior of the world and that John the Baptist cannot wait to prepare the way for Him! From the very moment that Mary said, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” the power of the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, revealing Mary as the chosen one of God. She was shown to be the vessel of salvation, the fiat from which all good things come, the bearer of Jesus, his joys and his suffering, the model of discipleship, and the first to enjoy the fruits of heaven’s salvation through her assumption into heaven. We pause in the midst of our journey through Ordinary Time to gather here at church and celebrate this feast of Mary, which serves as a reminder that, as Christians, we are hope-filled people. Throughout our lives, we strive to lead holy and truthful lives. As we journey, let us hold Mary as our model, ready and alert to accept the struggles of our world and our lives. Let us pray that we recognize God’s will when he asks that we give ourselves to others. Our hope is that, if we pattern our lives on Mary’s, then someday her new life in heaven will become the pattern of our lives, and we, too, will enjoy heaven’s fruits…and that is more than just an assumption; it is our faith!
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