Assumed
“The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.”
Psalm 45:10bc
Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul. That is the teaching of the Church, it is a dogma that is to be held and believed. When Mary completed her earthly life, we believe that God brought her into heaven. There is no official Church teaching on whether Mary suffered death, but in the Eastern Church, this feast is known as the “Dormition of the Mother of God.” Mary fell asleep and was taken up into heaven. What’s important here, to me, is not whether Mary “died” or “fell asleep” or some other event, but rather the fact here that Mary was taken up by God. Notice when we refer to Jesus, He ascended into Heaven (active), but when it comes to Mary, she was assumed into Heaven (passive). Mary’s life shows us the importance of receiving and allowing God to work in us and through us.
From the very beginning of Mary’s life (and our lives) she allowed others and God to take care of her, help her, teach her, and work in and through her. Fast forward to when we hear about her in the Gospels, Mary’s life there too was one of submission and obedience, “Be it done to me according to Your word…” Then the first thing she did after this was go to Elizabeth. Only after listening to God and His word did she go forth. We ought to do the same. Mary remains silent throughout most of the Gospels, but that does not mean she was just sitting there doing nothing. Perhaps this silence is a model of receptivity for us, to listen and to be still. For it is only by that are we able to really do anything well.
So, today on this Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary may we come to learn from Mary the great importance of receptivity and listening in our lives as Christian disciples so that at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, we too may fall asleep in the loving embrace of the Lord and be brought into the heavenly kingdom in which Jesus promised He has gone to prepare a place for us. Let us listen so that we may be encouraged, and in our encouragement may we go forth and do the good works God has asked of us.
