Assumption of Mary Homily

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.

This is the teaching that when Mary reached the conclusion of her earthly life that her body and soul were taken up to Heaven.

As those here on earth we await the time of the second coming of the Lord. It will be here that our soul will be reunited with our body and there will be a new Heaven and a new earth. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary acknowledges that Mary lived a life without the stain of sin and thus was taken up to Heaven now. It is this reward for which we now await.

Some might find issue in such a proclamation, but in Sacred Scripture we encounter Enoch and Elijah who might of been taken up body and soul into Heaven. In the Book of Genesis we are told that God took Enoch and in the words of Hebrews “so that he should not see death.” In the case of Elijah we are told in the Book of Maccabees that he “was taken up into heaven.”

With the confidence of faith we are able to proclaim that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into Heaven. This is something that has been held as true by the early Church just as it is today. This gift to her comes from God for she is the new ark of the covenant. It was the ark of the covenant which contained the very presence of God. It is this new ark which contained the presence of God in the second person of the Most Holy Trinity. She was without the blemish of sin including original sin and thus the fruit of her womb was Jesus.

As we are told in the Book of Revelation, “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple, and there were flashes of lightening, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake and heavy hail. And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars, she was with child.”

This is held to be the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we come to celebrate her Assumption may we come to foster devotion to her. Through her intercession may we allow our heart, our mind, and our soul to be lifted up to her Son. We must desire to live good and holy lives in order that we may one day go where she has gone before, Heaven.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen