The following is a reflection on the Feast of the Assumption given by Bishop Wiesner during the Cap-de-la-Madeleine (Quebec) Pilgrimage
The Gospel tells us “Mary set out and went with haste to a Judaean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth”.
In many ways we are like Mary. We have set out from many places and have come with earnest hearts to this sacred place to celebrate.
It is possible that much of our life’s experience is somewhat negative and discouraging. We may be discouraged about our government, about society, about the world economy, and perhaps even the church.
The event that we celebrate, the Assumption of Mary, invites us to see things in a different light; to see them in a spirit of hope. And this in two ways:
First of all, Mary’s assumption into heaven is a reminder of the feast that we will all celebrate. When we look at Mary’s life and our own, while the beginnings of our lives may differ the end of our lives will be the same. We are destined for intimacy with God – God himself.
As we celebrate Mary’s assumption into heave what we are being reminded of is our own hope for ourselves – eternal life, which God himself wants to be for us. We are celebrating what we expect, what we hope for ourselves. Ultimately, nothing more is said of her than what God, one day, we hope, will say to us. Our celebration today is one of true Christian hope.
The second very important point of our celebration today is that Mary is an example for us as to how we are to live in order that our hope be realized.
As we enter the New Millennium our Holy Father strongly encourages us to strive toward a fresh, personal, genuine encounter with Jesus Christ. Further, he reminds us that we are to encounter Jesus through Mary.
Always in life we respond much better to example than to teaching. Mary is such an example for us. The Holy Father notes, “The Mother of Christ presents herself as the spokeswoman of her Son’s will, pointing out those things which must be done so that the salvific power of the Messiah may be manifested. For this reason Mary is the sure path to our meeting with Christ” (CIA#11).
For the early Christian community Mary was the first disciple and the first apostle of Jesus.
We meet Mary for the first time at the annunciation. She is a young woman, 15-16 years of age. Someone fully human: She swept dirt floors, prepared simple meals, carried water on her head. What is so significant at this time is her openness and receptivity to what is being asked of her. This reflects a very humble, prayerful, faith-filled disposition on her part. Hence she is able to respond, “Let what you have said be done to me”.
Our gospel this morning says Mary “went with haste” to a Judaean town. Scripture scholars remind us that this reflects her obedience and response to God’s will for her.
Elizabeth reflects two ways in which Mary is truly blessed. “Blessed is the fruit of your womb”. Mary did for her Son what all mothers do for their children. The fruit of her womb is the Son of God. Thus, Mary is blessed.
Elizabeth also says, “Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled”.
Mary’s true blessedness is to be found in her faith; her trust that what was said to her by God would be fulfilled. Mary was truly human and had to make the same kind of act of faith and obedience that you and I have to make. It is here that we find her true blessedness.
This obedience to God’s will is affirmed three times during the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. She followed very simply and respectfully what God’s Law asked of people.
What is very precious to us is to discover how, on two occasions, Jesus highlights the greatness of his own Mother.
Jesus was speaking to a group when it was announced to him that his Mother and brothers were outside wanting to speak to her. Looking around at those with him Jesus replied: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? … Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50).
On another occasion when speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you”. But Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:27-28).
What Jesus is in fact saying is that there is a closer relationship with him than the blood relationship of his own Mother. It is the relationship of keeping his word. The one who does this most perfectly is his Mother.
To be a true disciple is to follow the Master, and to follow the Master totally. Again we find this of Mary when the evangelist tells us, “Standing near the cross of Jesus was his Mother”. This is the ultimate of what it means to be faithful.
Not only is Mary the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus, she is also the first apostle. Mary is the first one to proclaim the Good News. On the occasion of her visit to her cousin Elizabeth, she certainly was a messenger of Good News. So much so was this true that the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy.
When the evangelist places on the lips and heart of Mary the Magnificat – the prayerful song of Hannah – he makes of her the first and greatest apostle.
The Magnificat is a “toast to God”. Mary blesses God; she says great things about God; her very being proclaims the greatness of God. It is no surprise to us that from a life of very intimate discipleship should come forth the strong proclamation of such Good News. What is being affirmed in the Magnificat are all the great things God has done – first of all in Mary’s own life, but then of all the great things God has done in the history of God’s people.
Finally we find Mary summing up for us the Good News at the Wedding of Cana. More clearly and briefly we will never find a more challenging and consoling message of Good News: “Do whatever he tells you”.
This Feast of the Assumption is truly a celebration of hope.