MOTHER IN HEAVEN.

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August 15, 2022.
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Readings: Rv 11:19A; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16; 1Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56.

“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Rev 12:1

A German proverb says: “Who takes the child by the hand takes the mother by the heart.” And an Indonesian proverb adds: “A person who loves their mother is doing the best deed.”

“We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.” Pope Pius XII, Apostolic Constitution, Munificentissimus Deus, 44

May we start by providing a reaction and a type of answer to a common question and attack on the Catholics about Mary: where is it written in the Holy Bible about Mary's Assumption? The answer is that the Scriptures do not give an account of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and evil. A woman whose child is invested with a divine mission and who, after her birth giving is provided with a special place by Angels. A vision that perfects with Mary, the mother of our Lord and Savior.

The Assumption of Mary, more than being a celebration of a particular grace or merit of Mary is the acknowledgment of what the Lord did through her. It is also an advanced celebration of the merits of the Resurrection of her Son. The Son of God ascended into Heaven after his resurrection from the dead and took his Mother, the one preserved from all sins, the Immaculate, into the glory of his kingdom. God assumpted the Woman blessed among all women into his Heavenly dwelling. In Mary, therefore, we are given the privilege to have a heavenly mother. She was the Mother of Christ here on earth, she becomes our Mother in Heaven.

The readings are all a song of God's grace at work in Mary. In his Apocalyptic vision, John speaks of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and crowned with twelve stars. She was in labor pain, giving birth to a new humanity, to the Savior of mankind. This birth-giving sounds like the hour of the ultimate battle, the battle between good and evil.

We live in a time and in a world where this battle is ongoing. Evil and good are in continual opposition. But we have the assurance that evil will never win against Good. The Son of Mary is by our side fighting with us and for us. Evil may seem to dominate but that will be only for a time. In the end, this song of victory shall redound: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.” And then Mary, the King's Mother will stand at the right hand of her Son, arrayed in gold.

Paul, in his address to the Corinthians, tells us that Christ is the first fruit, then those who belong to him. He is the first among the dead to have ascended into Heaven. After him and through him, all who believe in him, including his mother will be taken into Heaven too.

Mary, Luke tells us through Elizabeth is blessed among women. That is, as we said before, because of her Son. With her, we can sing our canticle of gratitude and humility to God: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant..." May this Magnificat be always and everywhere on our lips singing our heavenly mother, singing the Mother of our Lord. For this is a great deed. This is what the Lord wants of us, that all generations should sing the praise of His Mother and call her blessed for the marvels the Almighty has done for her and with her.

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