Paul's Reflections THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION (BODY AND SOUL INTO HEAVEN) OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARYSUNDAY THE 15TH AUGUST, 2010.

THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION (BODY AND SOUL INTO HEAVEN) OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARYSUNDAY THE 15^TH AUGUST, 2010.

The blessed Virgin Mary is truly the most inspiring of all the saints……   and it is so understandable that so many churches and schools across the world have chosen as their patron saint’s name, the name of Mary……. Mary is the first and most perfect disciple of Christ……   Mary is such a perfect example of faith, trust and reflection…..    all through her life, Mary trusted and acted in the belief that her God knows what he is doing in our lives…..   we are told more than once that Mary “treasured” of “pondered”  all these things in her heart….   Reflecting upon the meaning of what was happening in her life…  trusting in God’s care and guidance….  Even when everything was going wrong…

 

In the newsletter this weekend, there is a striking and unusual quote from the great Theological writer Karl Rahner, where he writes……

"Whatever was transitory in Mary's life fell into the power of death, but only so that all that was eternal in her could shine in the full light, the eternal light made up of all the little flames of each instant of her shining existence."

—Karl Rahner, S.J. (1904-1984)

That is rather beautiful….   Especially the part about the little flames of each instant of Mary’s shining existence…..  Mary received the light of Christ…  Mary bore the light of Christ to the world… and in so many ways, big and small, Mary was a light of encouragement, grace, love and faith, to all she met… (in our own way, we receive the light of Christ by faith and baptism… we carry it and .. through our actions.. we show that light in our lives….

There is a beautiful prayer..  called the Litany of the blessed Virgin mary…   it lists some of the wonderful titles  such as (for example),..

Mother of God,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Ark of the covenant,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
….assumed into Heaven,
Queen of the most holy rosary,
Queen of Peace.

 

These and many more titles capture the qualities that make Mary so admirable…. And they all refer to her cooperation and reception of God’s gracious action…..   putting her life at the service of God’s plan for the world………….

The Assumption is a beautiful echo of the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven….   Jesus Ascended into Heaven, to return to his rightful place at the right hand of the Father….   He returned from where he had come…..    Mary, because of her absolute faithfulness, was given the blessing of being the first person to benefit fully from the promise made by Jesus Ascension…  that on the last day, we will be in Heaven with God, body and soul…..  Mary received this promise immediately at the end of her life…..   what happened to Mary, we hope will be given to us at the resurrection on the last day…… 

The assumption of Mary into Heaven…….   Mary is an ideal example of someone who cooperated with God’s plans… and as a result allowed God to do great things thorough her life and actions….//  .   and Look at the wonders the Holy Spirit of God can achieve when we are open to God’s plan in our lives….

 

Look at the incredible grace, love and fruit that is produced from saying “YES” to what God wants to achieve through us in the world…..

 

Mary stands as an incredible inspiration of human faithfulness, obedience, respect and humility….   Mary’s yes, allowed her to become a willing part of God’s plan in the world…..  

 

Let us never say,   “what can I contribute….   what good is what I have to give, compared with the enormity of the needs, the challenges… and the demands of this world….”  rather…. like Mary, may we be further inspired to say… yes Lord…..    you are great and good…… you can achieve all things (and a significant part of what God achieves, is also “in and through” the people God has invited to cooperate in God’s work……….   

 Mary did not merely trust in God by quietly sitting and waiting…  Mary was active and compassionate…..   she rushed off to help her cousin Elizabeth… she  saw a problem at the Wedding in Cana and took action to help by asking her son to assist…..   Mary was present at different parts of Jesus preaching…  and was there for him at the foot of the cross…. Mary was there praying with the Apostles in their time of doubt……..  

Mary is like…. (we are all like)    a writing instrument in the hand of our most artistic God……    if we allow ourselves to be the channel through which God’s good news, love, justice and forgiveness  is experienced…

 

“Wouldn’t it be great to be a clear mirror of the graciousness, peace and love of Christ….   whenever we do act or speak in ways that allows Jesus’ message to flow through us, it is an enormous source of blessing and good…..      Sadly sometimes, because we experience limitations, weakness and fragility…. we can block that graciousness and our actions and values can block the healing, the care and the compassion that God is trying to create in and through us…..   Let us pray that Jesus will show us how to allow ourselves to be more and more the light of Christ to each other   and to all….

 

May Mary, who shows us an openness and generosity to God….. and pre-figures the destiny of all who hope in Jesus’ promises, continue to inspire us to make a difference….  and say “yes” to God’s values in all we do, in the church, in the community, and in our homes and social situations…..