Solemnity of the Assumption

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. This celebration marks for us the reality of Mary's glorious triumph over the death of sin and thus too her welcoming into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Assumption is the reality that Mary was taken into Heaven both body and soul and thus we now look to her with the desire that we too may join her in Heaven and thus at the end of time we will be given a glorified body as we give proper honor, adoration, and homage to God for all time. The Assumption proclaims to us that sin cannot win and thus that the glory of God will always triumph in its midst.

Genesis instructs us concerning Mary: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed." Mary is thus joined for all time to her Son who redeemed us. She steps upon the head of the serpent because she triumphs over Satan who desires that we remain enslaved to our sin. From Revelation we are instructed concerning our Blessed Mother: "Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth." As we know the dragon had no power over her because her Son was brought into this world and triumphed upon the cross. The dragon could not come to devour her because she had been prepared for all time to be the handmaid of the Lord.

As she has been gloriously taken into Heaven so too are each of our prayers and petitions. She takes them upon herself and she offers them unto to her Son on our behalf. Mary, in her glorious splendor, shows us that triumph can be ours and thus she always encourages us forward towards a better way of life. May we allow her to guide us towards Heaven that we too may come to encounter her Son in all of His truth. When it seems that the path that has been set before us may be too long and tedious may we turn towards our Blessed Mother who always encourages us forward. When the grasp of temptation and weakness grabs ahold of us may we continue to shower her with our "Aves" as she continues to step upon the head of that wicked serpent. As the preface of this Mass reminds us concerning the reality of the Assumption: "(it is) a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people."

As the pilgrim people of this earth, we each are in search of our Heavenly promised land. Therefore may we come to trust in her who was found to be blessed among all women and she who came to exclaim in a spirit of great humility to be our guide. As the Collect of this Mass petitions: "that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory." Mary elevates our minds and hearts be taken to her Son. Mary leads us forward toward the freedom found within the Heavenly Kingdom. This a freedom that world cannot bestow upon us. May she intercede for us that we may come to set our sight upon this Heavenly promised land and thus in return survive this great "Vale of tears." Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us, that we may be taken to the mysteries of Christ.