Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a long-held belief, springing from the faith of the people of God: Because of her fidelity to God and her role in Salvation History as the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the completion of her life here on Earth. God prepared a special place for her and today we celebrate Mary’s arrival in that special place. Amen, We Believe!

With that said, please forgive my honesty. As a girl growing up Catholic, (admittedly, a LONG time ago!) I found some of the Church’s teachings about Mary kind of hard to swallow. Example - I was confused about Mary’s role. If I could go straight to Jesus, why did I need Mary as an intercessor? We were taught that the way to get Jesus’ attention was to go through Mary. She held back her Son’s wrath and let sinners into heaven through the back door. Was Mary actually the Savior?

My understanding of the teaching about Mary being given preternatural gifts meant she got pregnant in an un-natural way; did not experience pain in childbirth; lived a protected life and entered eternity also in an unnatural way. How could Mary actually know the reality of women if she was protected from everything?

Then what about the prophecy that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart and the seven sorrows of Mary in popular devotion? How did these play into the teaching that Mary was protected from pain?

On the holy cards I received for good behavior in parochial school, Mary is depicted as absolute purity incarnate.  I began to wonder if Mary was even real! Was she like the other childhood characters in which I had falsely believed?

More plastic than Barbie, Mary was a “perfect” image held up for all women as the impossible to imitate standard. I found it a struggle to relate to Mary as a woman like myself.

My search to find a working relationship with Mary led me to a retreat that featured the Magnificat, today’s Gospel reading, as the main focus for prayer and reflection.

The Retreat director had spoken about its power and the fact that this scripture was banned in some Latin American countries for inciting riots leading to revolutions. This revelation shattered my image of “Plastic Mary” as I began to see her with new eyes.

In the silence of the chapel and before a stained glass image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, I began to slowly and prayerfully ponder…

“And Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…’”

This prayerful pondering led to an encounter with Mary of the Magnificat, and our relationship changed. It became anchored in a real person, not the plastic image of my youth. This Mary is quite a woman who understands humanity.

I could see how it took great courage for her, a very young woman, to accept God’s invitation to be the instrument through whom God’s power turns the world upside down.

Mary, whose “YES!” ushers in the day where the rich and poor trade places; where the mighty are put down and the humble share power.

Mary could see the reality of the world consumed by greed, the struggle for power revealed through wars, and the impact of these things on the poor. And through her trust in God, both personally and communally, she proclaims that God is doing the impossible.

Her prophetic proclamation echoes through the ages, “in every generation”, ringing in our own ears.

Discovering this Mary gives me hope for navigating the challenges we are facing today. I invite us to ponder our reality and see through the Magnificat…How are we like Mary?
How do our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God?
Do we know that we are truly blessed?
Can we see and accept God’s love and mercy being poured into our lives?
How do we express gratitude for all God’s gifts?
Are we able to trust that God is doing the impossible?
Are we able to respond to God’s goodness by becoming those instruments through whom God reverses the world order and restores right relationships?
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Mary’s life of fidelity lead to her Assumption and shows the fulfillment of the promise of Eternal Life with God.  The feast of her Assumption lifts us to understand her life in and for Christ.

Mary: A woman who remained faithful to God’s calling.
A woman who sought God’s wisdom in all things.
A woman who trusted that God is doing the impossible.
A woman who cooperated with God’s grace giving birth to Jesus, the Eternal Word of God.
A woman who taught Jesus how to grow in righteousness
A woman who accompanied Jesus to the Cross
A woman who was present in the Upper Room at Pentecost
A woman who fully experiences Eternal Life with God
A woman whose light shines quietly and steadily through the ages.

Mary points the way to faith in Jesus,
Present in our midst,
Leading us to Eternal Life.
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How blessed are we who are given the invitation to follow!

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