20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 1:39-56
One of the great joys of being human is knowing that every individual, male and female, is made in the image and likeness of God. (Genesis.1:26).
We can celebrate Our Lady’s Assumption in light of this basic principle from the creation story even if we have a tendency to reshape God, even with the very best intentions, in our own image and likeness. First, of necessity, we have a limited concept of the magnificence of God, and inadequate picture of our Creator. Secondly, our personalities shape all we see, touch and do because of the uniqueness of our being and our perceived needs.
For example, take note of how some of us cling to the notion of a docile or pliable God, who will grant our wishes if only we ask him in the right way; others have a concept of an indulgent God who will turn a blind eye on the double standards in our lives; or others again focus on a vengeful God, whom we obey only out of fear. All of these and more are inadequate concepts of who God truly is.
To test the quality of our faith we might approach it with the mind and heart of Mary. Do my ideas resemble Mary’s vision of God, especially as in today’s gospel when she says, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
Mary combines sincere worship of God with deep joy in his presence. In her prayer of praise, the Magnificat, Mary is enraptured by God, she does not ask anything for herself, she is not worried about the future; she thinks only of the goodness of God up to the present moment, and of the gratitude she owes to God. Mary is fully content knowing she is forever in the presence of God, a living presence. In her we have the supreme example of someone totally captivated by the love of God. In this sense, she is the most blessed of all God’s creatures.
First among the saints, she is the handmaid, the willing and joyful servant of the Lord. She lived solely for God and therefore God, who cannot be outdone in generosity, gave her the completeness or perfection of grace. Now just as Jesus did not abandon us when he ascended to heaven, so Mary has not been separated from the Christian community by her Assumption but remains for each of us a sign of hope.
We are called, like her, to share in the fullness of Christ’s glory. She is the model and guarantee of all that the believer hopes to become in heaven. We pray today that we too may be found worthy to come to that place in heaven which God has prepared for those who love him.