Reading I: 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57
GOSPEL: Luke 11:27-28
In these crazy times, when people preach the gospel of “me and my freedom,” it’s easy for Christians to forget that hearing and obeying the word of God is a true blessing. We don’t want to obey anyone! But what we’ve forgotten is that when we hear and obey God’s word, we are accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord – the savior who has conquered death and offers us eternal life!
Mary – the Ark of the New Covenant
Our first reading today helps us appreciate that the ark was the center of Israel’s worship. King David focused on the ark, which held the original Ten Commandments and was considered to be the centerpiece of the covenant between God and Israel. The ark was special because it carried the proof of the Covenant, so it was revered due to its special role.
This reverence for the vessel was later adopted by the Christian tradition and was likely the precedent for the early Church’s focus on Mary’s womb as the centerpiece of the new covenant between God and the people. Mary’s womb was the new ark because it began the incarnate life of Jesus Christ.
Just like the original covenant, the new covenant is an alliance with God, sealed in blood. And even though the original ark was a symbol, it established a very real relationship. The same is true with Mary, who has become the icon of God’s salvation that came to fruition in Jesus, the Messiah.
Blessed was the fruit of Mary’s womb
Our second reading, from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that we have been given victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Reflecting on that gift on the Solemnity for the Assumption of Mary reminds us of how important her role was.
At the time St. Paul wrote this letter, the theology of Mary had not been developed, so it’s not surprising that he didn’t write much about her explicitly. But simply understanding that the doctrine of Mary actually took centuries to develop can help to remind us that the Church is always growing and should continue to learn from all its members. The Church should continue to learn from our experience of living the Christian life together.
Even though St. Paul didn’t fully comprehend the critical role Mary played in our salvation history, he clearly understood the importance of the fruit of her womb!
Luke understood the importance of Mary
The Gospel of Luke definitely presents Mary’s role as being indispensable. Luke basically holds Mary up as the ultimate example of accepting God’s call to be one of the Chosen People and he clearly sees her as a model for all believers who hear the Word and keep it.
And maybe that’s why this reading is selected for the Solemnity. It clearly reminds us of the indispensable role Mary played but then shows us that we, too, can be blessed. In fact, this reading tells us that those of us who listen to the Word proclaimed at Mass are even more blessed than someone who is proclaiming the Word!
In our liturgical tradition, the sensory experience of the Liturgy of the Word has always been considered primary. You might study the Bible in the comfort of your own home in preparation for Mass, but “quietly studying” isn’t considered the “privileged experience” within the Catholic tradition. The “privileged experience” is hearing and experiencing the proclamation of the Word during our celebration of the Mass together as a community of faith!
Things to consider on this Solemnity
On this Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it’s important for us to remember the indispensable role that Mary played in our salvation history but we also need to remember that Mary is a role model for all of us. As the original disciple – the first to say an unequivocal “YES!” to God – she provides an example for every single human being. And how do we follow her example? By hearing and obeying the word of God, which is a true blessing because in doing so, we accept Jesus Christ – the savior who has conquered death and offers us eternal life in heaven!
Life Applications:
What do you think about Mary’s role as “the Mother of God?”
What do you believe God is calling you to do?
How can you say an unequivocal “YES” to God?
Check out the REAL Word Podcast for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Cycle B):
Original article by Brandon Jubar, 2021.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.