The Assumption of Mary is Our Hope

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ •  St. Josaphat Formation Center • Phoenix, AZ

We celebrate solemnly and joyously the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: that at the end of her life on earth she was taken up, body and soul, into Heaven. This is our destiny and our hope – to be taken to Heaven at the end of our lives on earth.

Often times the Ascension of the Lord and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin are confused by younger or not well educated Catholics. The subtleties of ascending or being assumed are too easily missed. The Lord ascended into Heaven under His own power as the Eternal Son of God, while the Blessed Virgin Mary – as holy as she was – had to be raised up body and soul by the Lord’s power. “For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order…”(1Cor 15:22) Only Christ Jesus holds the keys to life and only in Him are we brought to life. This is the beauty and the immense importance of our Faith in Him.

This basic tenet of Faith has ramifications in all we do and strive to do as Catholics: we are dependent on the Lord for all good things. He has promised to do what is impossible for us to do! Acknowledging this is the source of our success and of our joy in life! Our absolute dependence on God is not a slavery but a liberation and the means of our complete fulfillment.

To tap into this divine promise we have to imitate the main virtue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the virtue that caught the Lord’s eye and because of which He did so much for her and through her: “the lowliness of His handmaid.” Mary’s humility is a complete openness and trust in the promises of God and the source of Elizabeth’s inspired praise: “Blessed are you who believed that what was promised you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:46)

Mary’s humility contradicts the diabolical arrogance and lie of self-sufficiency that since the Garden thoroughly plagues our world as we see vividly today. Colluding with the perennial temptation replaces authentic good with illusions of power and pleasure that exhaust, enslave and embitter the world. Humble service of God and neighbor leads to life and happiness eternally.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ by imitating your humble trust in the Lord!

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