The Beginning of the Church's Coming to Perfection

Homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

As we come together to praise God for the grace that has been bestowed upon our Blessed Mother, we also note the interplay of the Scriptures chosen for today with the liturgical prayers the Church has written for today. As we began this morning, we asked God to make us mindful of the things that are above so that we can one day share in the joys that Mary now enjoys.

Then at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, we begin as we always do: “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.” Immediately after these words we specify why we are full of gratitude and praise: “Today, the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church’s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.”

Logically, we must admit that if Mary is the beginning of the Church’s coming to perfection, there must be an ending as well. That ending, of course, is the day when all of us find ourselves living with the Lord just as she does today; for as we profess in the Creed every Sunday, we “look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” Today’s feast is a special celebration of that article of our faith.

In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes of the fundamental truth of our faith: Jesus, who was crucified and died, has risen from the dead. The disobedience of Adam has been erased by the obedience of Jesus. Christ’s resurrection was a singular event in its saving significance. Out of his death and resurrection came new possibilities for all people and particularly for those who already have fallen asleep in death. When each of us passes from this life, we too will know the new possibilities which are a result of Jesus’ resurrection. Furthermore, we also believe that even death itself ultimately will be destroyed. When that day comes, the Church will come to perfection as it realizes the fulfillment of its purpose; namely, to lead all people to eternal life with God. So not only is Mary the beginning of the Church’s coming to perfection, she stands before us today as the image of that aspect of our faith that one day we are destined to experience the resurrection of our bodies.

Because of Mary’s unique role in salvation history as Mother of God and Mother of the Church, God gave her an early share in the fullness of Christ’s resurrection by taking both her soul and her body into heaven shortly after her very real death. Now more like Christ than ever, she too enjoys forever an immortal, glorified body as she intercedes for the Church. Mary’s intercession for us as she reigns as the Queen of heaven is that sign of sure hope and comfort which we celebrate today.

Death is not something that brings a smile to our faces in most instances. At the same time, we have to admit that death has much in common with birth. Birth is dangerous for both mother and child. The reading that comes to us from the Book of Revelation reminds us of that fact. The sacred writer presents us with an image of a woman about to give birth. As she struggles to bring life into the world, there is a dragon waiting to swallow up that life. This metaphorical image speaks to the dangers that are present in the world – moral dangers as well as physical danger. However, as the reading reminds us, God has a place prepared for each of us no matter whether our life is short or long.

The Gospel reminds us of some of the dragons that still exist in our world and of the work that remains for us to do, the work into which God invites us. There are still dragons in this world waiting to be slain. While God has done mighty things for us, God also invites us to participate in the mundane deeds that insist that we die to self and sacrificially collaborate with God in slaying the dragons of our world. Pride runs rampant until it is scattered, including the pride that resides in our own hearts. Mighty ones remain free to oppress unless someone challenges their prerogative to do so. The lowly need lifting and the hungry need filling and the vulnerable need helping. There are those who have forgotten or who have never heard God’s promise of mercy. The Almighty has done great things for us, and holy is God’s name! Let us now do good things for those who need lifting, filling, and helping.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator