Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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My dear brothers and sisters! The feast
of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates that
mystery of our faith according to which Mary, at the end of
her life on earth, was assumed bodily into the glory of
heaven without being subject to the corruption of death. No
wonder we can joyfully pray with Elizabeth, “Blessed art
thou among women.” No wonder the Church is happy to sing the
praises of Mary in her own words, “The Almighty has done
great things for me.”
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Mary was the first human being to share
in the fullness of the resurrection of Jesus. The mystery of
faith announces that Christ died on the cross and rose again
on the 3rd day in a glorious body. Christ is the
first-born from the dead. He is the first-fruits. His
resurrection is the principle and pattern of ours. After his
coming in glory, all those who belong to him, will be
brought to life in Christ.
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I am sure it is permitted to say that
Mary, the sinless mother of the Lord, belongs to him as no
other does, and she was given the privilege of sharing fully
in the resurrection of Christ, ahead of time as it were,
without being subject to the corruption of the body which
the iniquity of death causes. She was taken bodily into
heaven. The Church looks on Mary as a sign of hope for us.
Where she has gone before, we, the Church, hope to follow.
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How can she be a sign of hope for us? In
her words of greeting to Mary, Elizabeth praised Mary
further, exclaiming: “Blessed is he who believed that the
promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Mary was
called herself to faith and to hope. She put her trust in
God. She is the first of the believers. We too are called to
faith, to hope and to trust. Sometimes the world we live is
not always conducive to faith and trust either because of
difficult personal circumstance or because it is in many
ways a valley of tears. In these circumstances the faithful
have always found in Mary maternal consolation and a source
of hope and strength, so that they may believe in God more
surely and follow Christ and his Gospel more faithfully.
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If the risen Christ is the brilliant sun,
then Mary is the irridescent moon. The moon reflects the
light of the sun. When the sun sets and the darkness covers
us, the moon gives its comforting light. But when the sun
shines again, the moon does not compete with the light of
the sun. When the darkness comes into our lives, Mary is
there with her light to console and guide us back to the
day, and to the light and splendour of Christ her Son, who
is forever and always our resurrection and our life.
St. Mirin’s Cathedral
Paisley, 15th August 2007
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