The human person sees in perspective—he needs to see things in perspective in order to make sense of it. For example, looking out into the horizon, we scan a wide panorama of things. What happens is that our faculty of sight needs to lock onto some familiar things so as to give us a measure of what is before us.The Assumption of Mary is one such measure for the human race. In the immensity, the grandeur and the majesty of who God is, Mary assumed body and soul into heaven becomes such a figure that is familiar to us; a figure that allows us to see how we are to fit into the larger picture. I particularly like very much the quote by a Poet that Mary is our tainted nature’s solitary boast.
She is the foundation for the reasonability of faith. Her fiat, “let it be done according to your word”, represents an utter and unqualified trust in a God who never fails to satisfy our inmost or deepest expectation. God is the only one who can satisfy us completely and as such, He never fails to keep his promise. Unfortunately, many of us believe that our faith will shield us from pains and sufferings. The foundation of our faith is rather contingent and is based upon the principle of reciprocity: “God, we do this and you keep your promise”. The basis of our relationship with God is at the level of “You scratch my back, I scratch your back”. If that were not the case, then, why the many questionings that come after a tragedy? “I have done my part and yet I feel so betrayed by my God”.
For Mary, “Let it be done” does not take away the pains which she has to undergo—an uncertain pregnancy of a woman out of wedlock and its attendant punishment if found out; the indignity of giving birth in a stable; the frightful losing of her only son, not to mention, the son of God, and the anxious searching for him in Jerusalem; the leaving of Jesus from home for an active ministry that saw him with nowhere to lay his head; and the death of Jesus at an age where he was beginning to flourish in his ministry. Her faith, instead of shielding her, propels her into the heart of living. Life is full of vicissitudes and in her own life we know that Mary’s faith brought her into the fullness of life. It is in life that she finds her God. Mary became our pillar of faith not because she was shielded from the bomb blast of belief in God but because she took the risk of standing by and upon the promise of God. People might argue that because she was sinless, immaculately conceived and therefore she could not have felt the toils or the troubles of temptations that we all, “mere mortals” feel. But judging by what she went through, one can surmise that precisely because of the immaculate conception that God our Lord subjected her to the test beyond what many of us can bear. The Immaculate Conception was a gift given to Mary in view of her role as the Mother of the Son of God. The Immaculate Conception was never given so that Mary could be free from the trials that we are subjected to. Thus, rightly she becomes the measure of our vision of heaven.
According to the Preface written for the Solemnity, Mary is taken up to be the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection… As such, the Assumption is like a mirror of Easter Sunday. The empty tomb of Jesus is also the empty tomb of Mary for the Church has never venerated the mortal remains of Mary. Since Mary is closely associated with Jesus, she participates fully in his resurrection. Mary's assumption strengthens our faith just as the transfiguration on the mountain strengthened the faith of the three apostles.
Today we gather in joyous celebration because all Marian doctrine and devotion, properly understood and practised, does not lead believers away from, but rather more deeply into, the mystery of Christ. Therefore, let us look at Mary, our pillar of faith, to ask her to strengthen us in our journey amidst the joys and sorrows of life. What we all undergo will all be transformed by Christ's victory. Mary knows it already, and today she confirms our faith and hope.
