Homily -15 August 2024 – Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother- Rev Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB

 

Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother- 15 August 2024

Mass Readings:  Rev 11:19; 12:1-6.10   Ps 44   1 Cor 15: 20-26   Lk 1: 39-56

Key Verse to Meditate: And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (Lk 1:46-47).

My dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Today, holy Mother the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed into heaven in both body and soul. This Marian dogma of faith was solemnly proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950. At the end of her earthly life, Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer, was preserved from sin and corruption and was raised in glory, body and soul, to be closer to her Son in heaven. The empty tomb of Mary, along with the image of the empty tomb of Jesus, demonstrates to us the total victory of God, the giver of life, over death. At the end of the world, He will cause the physical death of each of us to rise into eternal life together with Christ.

The Seventy-Eighth Independence Day: For us Catholics in India, today is also a special day of celebration, as we commemorate the Seventy-eighth Independence Day of our great nation. This celebration is a rare combination of twin feasts, and as Indians, we are proud to celebrate our nation’s freedom alongside the glorious assumption of our Blessed Mother into heaven. Thus, for us Christians, it is a double feast: the Independence of our nation and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, with gratitude, we raise our hearts and minds to God, praying for our beloved nation and for the holistic growth of each of its citizens, especially the poor and downtrodden.

The First Reading

In the first reading from the Book of Revelation, we read about Mary: "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" (Rev 12:1). This woman, who has the sun for her mantle and a crown of stars, is none other than Mother Mary. Her birth and her life were invincible with God's grace in the face of the primordial enemy. Thus, Mary can be said to be the “figure and first fruits of the Church.” The humble handmaid was the first to believe in the Lord and His plan for humanity. At the end of time, Mary awaits us all to live and sing with her, expressing our gratitude for God's grace in the kingdom of heaven.

However, the first reading also speaks of another sign: "Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born" (Rev 12:3-4). What does the sign of the "enormous red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems on its heads" represent? It represents all those forces contrary to the divine plan of the Father to "recapitulate all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth" (Eph 1:10), through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

The Dragons Today

These dragons exist even today, seeking in many ways to devour the birth of Christ, continuously generated by the mission of the Church in the world. Today, the dragon can represent anything: the exaltation of the ego, the craving for power to rule the world, the pursuit of pleasure, the loss of the sense of sin, the idolatry of money and sensual pleasure, the throwaway culture that discards the poorest and most defenseless, or the secular way of living that forgets God and adheres to worldly standards. It can also be the desire for self-realization based on the illusion of self-sufficiency, leading to an individualistic and deeply hedonistic lifestyle. We need to constantly seek the Savior to be protected from the powers of evil, and by living in God and for God, we can sing with Mary an eternal Magnificat.

The Second Reading

At the end of her earthly life, the Mother of the Redeemer, preserved from sin and corruption, was elevated to glory in both body and soul near her Son in heaven. The empty tomb of Mary, like the image of the empty tomb of Jesus, signifies and prefigures the total victory of the God of life over death. At the end of the world, He will cause the bodily death of each of us to rise into eternal life together with Christ. Mary stands as the “figure and first fruits of the Church.” She is the first fruits in the pain of motherhood in service to the Redemption. As we read in today’s second reading, Mary is also the first fruits in the destiny of glory (1 Cor 15:20). Mary awaits us all in heaven, where we will live and sing with her, expressing our gratitude for God's grace in our lives. Thus, the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary is a celebration of her resurrection.

As Scripture and the doctrines of the Church teach us, Mary was the first, after Christ, to experience the resurrection (1 Cor 15:23). Our faith confirms that what God did for Jesus and Mary, He will also do for every believer. This is why it is a double feast—a celebration in heaven and a celebration on earth. The solemnity of the Assumption of Mary is a celebration of her resurrection. Mary was the first, after Christ, to experience the resurrection. Our faith assures us that what God did for Jesus and Mary, He will do for every believer. This is why it is a double feast, celebrated both in heaven and on earth.

The Gospel Reading

In the Gospel, we see two holy women, Mary and Elizabeth, both very simple and deeply faithful to the Lord and attentive to the Word of God. While Elizabeth bursts forth in a song of blessing, Mary joins her in glorifying God and His works. The gospel story of these two holy women teaches us that holiness consists in doing daily activities with love and dedication. Holiness is about living our ordinary daily lives as Christians with prayer, dedication, and attention to the Word of God. Both women recognized the movement of God’s salvific action in each other’s lives. This is a reflection of recognizing the ‘saints next door,’ as Pope Francis teaches in his third apostolic exhortation, ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’ (Rejoice and be Glad, March 19, 2018).

The scene in today’s Gospel passage shifts from the house of the Virgin Mary to that of her cousin Elizabeth, far from the holy Temple of Jerusalem to an ordinary home on a hill. Holiness, then, is lived out in the everyday life that shapes our existence. We are often accustomed to thinking of holiness as something extraordinary and distant from our daily lives. However, this solemnity, with its Gospel passage, reminds us that the holiness exemplified by Our Lady, who stands at its pinnacle, is realized through the simple, everyday actions performed with care and devotion. Mary had the grace to recognize the footsteps of the Spirit of God in both great events and those that seemed small and insignificant.

Mary’s Faith Journey

Today's Gospel tells us that after the Annunciation, Mary left for the hill country of Judea to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth. By this time, Mary had already accepted God's grace to become the Mother of the Savior (Lk 1:38). She greeted Elizabeth, and her greeting almost sounded like that of an angel. Mary's greeting brought great joy not only to the elderly woman but also to the baby in the womb, who leaped for joy at recognizing the divine presence of the Lord in the womb of our Blessed Mother (Lk 1:44). Mary was no longer just the ordinary young cousin; Elizabeth greeted her as the Mother of the Savior. Elizabeth, the holy woman, recognized the action of grace in Mary. Therefore, filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth blessed her, saying, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42), and with fond affection and faith, she proclaimed her as "the Mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43).

The Magnificat

Mary responded to Elizabeth’s greeting with the canticle of the Magnificat. The Magnificat consists of inspired words that offer us a glimpse into the heart of Mary. For us, the disciples of the Lord, the Magnificat is Mary’s "spiritual testament." The Church throughout all ages continues to sing the Magnificat as its own song every day during evening prayer. The Magnificat celebrates the infinite beauty of a God who makes the impossible possible, who stands on the side of the poor, and who reveals a Father with a mother’s heart.

Hail Mary : This greeting, known as the "Hail Mary" prayer, is one of the most recited prayers among Catholics worldwide. Mary, in turn, responded to her cousin with the canticle of the Magnificat, recognizing God’s great plan and the mercy shown to her, a humble creature. Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Lk 1:46-47). These inspired words offer us a glimpse into her heart and serve as her "spiritual testament." Identifying with Mary, the Church throughout all ages continues to sing the Magnificat as its own song every day.

The good news that Mary wants to share with Elizabeth and with all of us is that God is accessible, quite different from what human minds have imagined. Mary is also shown to us as a woman truly full of God, who constantly turned to Him. Mary felt in her life and body the life-giving presence of God. This is what we, too, are called to live: to live by the power of the Holy Spirit, with hearts full of God’s words, listened to and meditated upon. We learn from Mary’s attitude—always eager and willing to do God’s will and ready to carry it out.

Points for Personal Reflection

1. Mary, the First Believer in Her Son: Mary believed even before she consented to be the Mother of the Savior. She first conceived the eternal Word in her heart before she gave birth to Him in the flesh. Following our Blessed Mother, we, as pilgrims on this earth, are called to give birth to Christ in our hearts, in our thoughts, and in our minds. This is not an easy task. Generating Christ in the world can be a challenge greater than our strength and abilities.

2. The Marian Way to Bring Joy and Hope: The gospel passage for this solemnity of the Assumption of Mary reminds us that we must bring Jesus to others, and in doing so, bring joy and hope to them. May Mary, who visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was waiting for the precursor, show us the Marian way to bring joy and hope to others. As Pope Francis recalls in Evangelii Gaudium, Mary leads us to Christ and to the joy that is Christ, the only Savior of the world: "The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept His offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness. With Jesus Christ, joy is constantly born anew." We are called to become carriers of joy in our hearts and, in turn, bring joy and hope to our neighbours.

3. Mother Mary and Her Cousin Elizabeth: There are many similarities when we meditatively consider Mother Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. These two holy women, filled with the Holy Spirit, met while carrying two of the greatest men who would change the course of world history. Both women were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and rejoiced in Him. Not only did these two women recognize each other, but the two holy children in their wombs also recognized one another and rejoiced. One holy woman carried the Creator, while the other carried John the Baptist, the precursor to Jesus. The young virgin, overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit, would give birth to "Immanuel," God with us, while the elderly woman would give birth to John the Baptist, who would also be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit even before his birth (Lk 1:15). Mary, the young virgin, greeted Elizabeth, and Elizabeth, the elderly woman, being filled with the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:41), greeted Mary as the "Mother of her Lord" (Lk 1:43). Do we recognize the singular divine grace given to Mother Mary by God?

4. Mary, the Woman of Faith: Mary is the woman of faith, and her feast of the Assumption stands as an example of the future life in God. Whoever gives birth to Christ in their lives and lives a life of faith and grace on earth will surely enjoy the fruits of the beatific vision of glory and the resurrection. Mary carried Jesus in her womb, making her the living tabernacle. Do I also carry Jesus and His Spirit to grow in my faith life? Elizabeth carried John the Baptist in her womb, and when Mary visited her, she recognized her as the mother of her “Lord.”

We need to believe in the promises of God for our lives just as Mary believed in the promises of God for her life. If we can do that, then we too can sing along with Mary, our hymn of thanksgiving to God for all His wonders: And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name" (cf. Lk 1:46-53).

Today, we are called to contemplate the great mystery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Today, we pray to our Heavenly Mother, as always, so that from heaven she can guide her children on their journey toward the glory of heaven, where she awaits us as Mother of God and our Mother. As we invoke her always, let us also thank her from the bottom of our hearts for all the benefits the Lord grants us through her intercession. May Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, help us to always keep our gaze fixed on Christ Jesus, her Son, our only salvation, and help us find the right path every day. May she lead all people of goodwill in India toward true freedom, where everyone may enjoy peace, prosperity, and brotherhood.

As we celebrate the seventy-eighth Independence Day of our country and the Assumption of Mary, we are also asked to reflect on God's will for our lives. Do we seek God’s plan for our lives all the time?

Gratitude is the highest form of spirituality. Do I thank God like our Blessed Mother? Do I recognize the action of the Holy Spirit in my life? Do I take Christ to others, just like our Blessed Mother?

How do I enjoy the freedom that the Lord has given me in the Holy Spirit? A life dedicated to God in faith and grace is indeed a life full of freedom and grace. There can be no freedom where there is no grace. How do we use the freedom that God has given us?

Do I live a life of God’s grace, aware of His accompanying presence in my life?

Holiness consists in being open to God’s will. May our Blessed Mother, assumed into heaven, be our beacon of hope, guiding our eyes toward heaven.

Mary Most Holy, Assumed into Heaven – Pray for Us

Happy Feast and Happy Independence Day!"

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