BLESSED AMONG WOMEN

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION - Rev 11:19,12:1-6,10

Mary of Nazareth was an exceptional woman, who played a very important role in God’s plan of salvation, by God’s own choosing. Time and again, we hear discordant voices and accusing the Catholic Church of overemphasising her importance and her dignity, but the ones uttering disparaging words about Mary must ask themselves what right do they have to question God’s decision to choose Mary and make her most blessed. Elizabeth recognised the blessing bestowed upon Mary, exclaiming “with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Lk 1:42).

And how was she blessed? She is the woman “adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown.” (Rev 12:1). She is the chosen of the Lord. She was elected and called, and she was entrusted with a great mission, the mission of bringing forth the Messiah.

She is blessed because she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, who came upon her and in her made a new creation. In her, the new people of God came forth, since she gave birth to the one who is the Head of that people.

She is blessed, because she was a woman of faith, who believed, being ready to obey and to carry out the mission entrusted to her.

She is blessed, because she shared the pain and the passion of the cross, and filled with the Holy Spirit, she was with the first community, helping them to be prepared for the outpouring of the Spirit.

Finally she is blessed, because salvation has been fulfilled in her. And that is the meaning of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The assumption means that Mary has been saved, body and soul, because salvation to be salvation has to be holistic, that is salvation of the whole person. What we believe about Mary, the mother of the Lord, is what we hope for: being one with Christ and sharing in his resurrection, we will be a new creation.

Let us praise God, our Father, for the gift of Mary, the mother of the Lord, who has become our mother, a caring mother, who asks Jesus to give us the joy of salvation. Following in her footsteps, we learn the obedience of faith and become one with Christ.