Assumption of Mary

Before I begin this evening I hope you’ll indulge me for a bit. Although I’ve had an opportunity to speak with many of you since my ordination, I wanted to take an opportunity to publicly thank my natural family and my Our Savior family for your support, encouragement, and especially your prayers during my discernment and formation process over the past few years. Marybeth, thank you especially for your love and support, and for continuing to say yes. I am humbled that God has granted me the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and pray that through his grace I may be up to the challenge. Dcn Francis and I both feel blest to be a part of Our Savior, and ask you to continue to pray for us as we begin our ordained ministry.

Tonight we gather to celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven. As described in the Catechism:

“The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body.” (CCC 974)

which has been called (by whom?) one of the most important celebrations of our Catholic faith is the manifestation, the foreshadowing of the Easter promise for each of us. Assumption completes the promise of the Easter mystery for the people of God, the first manifestation of what Christ purchases for his people through the cross.

Source of disagreement with Protestants – where is it in the Bible?

Support for Assumption – lack of relics, early mentions (Council of Nicea 325AD), consistent in the Eastern Church; no tomb

“Although the New Testament does not explicitly affirm the Mary’s Assumption, it offers a basis for it because it strongly emphasized the Blessed Virgin’s perfect union with Jesus’ destiny. This union, which is manifested, from the time of the Savior’s miraculous conception, in the Mother’s participation in her Son’s mission and especially in her association with his Redemptive sacrifice, cannot fail to require continuation after death. Perfectly united with the life and saving work of Jesus, Mary shares His Heavenly destiny in body and soul.” St. JP II

Christ ascended (by his own power), Mary was assumed (by the grace of God)

Discussion of the Gospel here

We see that in our Gospel reading today, both in Elizabeth’s proclamation and greeting to Mary and in the humility of Mary’s response, spoken both individually and as the chosen embodiment of the Jewish people. As a Church we embrace this Gospel in our liturgy – Elizabeth’s greeting in the Hail Mary, and Mary’s response in the Magnificat prayed daily throughout the Church at Evening Prayer.

Mary, our heavenly mother; our supreme role model in how to embrace and LIVE the will of God.

In Mary we find the perfect union with Jesus’ destiny

At the Annunciation Throughout his ministry and her discipleship; At the time of his sacrifice on the cross In company with the Apostles until the end of her life.

reading (Paul’s ltr to Corinthians) – Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep…For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order…”

So who better than Mary? “By her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to his Son’s redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity. Thus she is a ‘pre-eminent and …wholly unique member of the Church’; indeed, she is the ‘exemplary realisation’ (SIC) of the Church. (CCC 967) Through the grace of God, Mary did not suffer from the stain of Original Sin. We profess as much in the Immaculate Conception. As the Venerable Cardinal John Henry Newman wrote: “Why should she share the curse of Adam, who had no share in his fall?”

Assumption represents Mary’s total liberation from decay and corruption of death – a reward for her total acceptance and cooperation with the will of God. More importantly for us, she exemplifies the promise of Easter available to each of us through the grace of God, all who live in union with the heart of Jesus will share in the glory of his resurrection. Tonight as we celebrate Mary’s Assumption we join in her happiness, and ask her to intercede for us with her Son that we may remain faithful to our call to discipleship in this life, and to join her in the next.