MARY ’S GLORIFICATION PRECEDES OUR OWN
There is nothing spectacular about today’s feast as what we celebrate is the Assumption of Mary into heaven, something all who go to heaven will receive eventually. The Church reasons that it is appropriate that Mary be received into heaven directly after her death as she was without sin. The rest of humanity are sinners and so we have to go through a process of purification to cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Yes, Mary still needed to be redeemed as she does not have the power to save herself, but she does not have the same level of solidarity with sin that the rest of us share.
The Assumption of Mary is a sign of hope for us. We celebrate her assumption into heaven as an anticipation of our own. This sort of dynamic is common among the feast days of the Church: the Ascension of Jesus is the forerunner to our own; the resurrection of Jesus is the pattern for our lives, as is His passion and death. It is important that we do not see these celebrations as belonging to Mary or Jesus alone. They are ours in anticipation and faith. They are a part of our inspiration and motivation.
The Church honors Mary in many ways because of her significant role in the work of salvation as the Mother of our Redeemer. But Mary is more than that. She is also a model of discipleship and the first Christian — the first follower of Christ. Let us ask for her prayers and intercession so that we will more closely follow her example and so unite our lives to the will of God and His Kingdom.
The world puts sports men and women, actors and actresses and many others before us as models for life. The Church has Her saints. It is to them that we look for inspiration and guidance, but perhaps to Mary most of all. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Who do you turn to when you want to be inspired to live a better life? How well do you know the lives of the saints?
Jesus, thank You for the gift of Mary as my Mother. Thank You for the example of the lives of the saints. Help me to follow them as best I can in my life.
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