“Like Shah Jahan, God could not bear the death of his beloved. However, God could do what no Indian emperor could do — raise his beloved from the dead and restore her to life even more beautiful than before. Moreover, God didn’t have to build a Taj Mahal to memorialize Mary. Her glorified body is itself a magnificent temple of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Fr. Albert Cylwicki, CSB
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a wonderful day as it gives us the opportunity to think about our life here on earth as well as our life to come. For we, like Mary, have much to anticipate as we remember that our life here on earth is only for a short time as we prepare to be called to eternity.
Mary, because she had been chosen by God to be the Mother of His Son, Jesus, was preserved from the stain of original sin. We call that the Immaculate Conception. Because of that, her body would not undergo corruption as that is one of the ramifications of original sin. Thus, at the end of her time here on earth, Mary, after her death, was raised body and soul to heaven to share eternal glory with her Son.
While we will have to experience the corruption of death, our souls, created in the image and likeness of God, will not die. At the end of our time on earth, when we perish and are buried, we go to God for our particular judgment. If we practice saying yes to God as Mary did, we will not have to fear that judgment and we will be able to look forward to living with God forever.
Mary is the greatest witness of saying yes to God. She shows us how to relate to our Father and she shows us how to relate to her Son. She wants us to draw closer to Jesus. In all of her apparitions on earth, her message was directed to her Son. Listen to Him, follow Him, love Him, serve Him. In doing so, we will continue His work here on earth and be able to look forward to the day when we are called to Him forever.
FAITH ACTION: Take some time in your day to reflect upon Mary’s “Yes” to God and ask God for the same grace to say yes to His holy will as well.