+ Today we are in the height of summer and we pause to celebrate a feast of the Virgin Mary. We celebrate "the gathering of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the harvest of salvation." Christ her son was the "firstfruits" of this glorious company, as we heard in our second reading. Today's feast recalls that his Blessed Mother shared from the very moment of her death in that same fullness of life that she witnessed on Easter Day – and her body and soul rose from this earth to take its place beside her Son, the King of the Universe. Today's feast is ecumenical in its reach, as well: Orthodox Christians celebrate Mary's Dormition, or "falling asleep," while many Protestant communities honor Mary today as "Mother of the Lord." Our Roman Catholic tradition, however tells us on the other hand, that Mary actually died and not just fell asleep; and, of course that Mary is not just the Mother of the Lord (that is "Jesus the Man"), she is truly Mother of God – as his Divinity - his being Son of God - cannot be separated from his being also Son of Man at the same time. And so, if she is Mother of the Man, she is also Mother of God.
Most importantly, we will hear in our preface before the Eucharistic Prayer in just a few moments: Mary is the image of the Church; where God has taken her, we (who are the Church – the Mystical Body of her Son) hope to follow. This is no simple wishful thinking, but this hope is based on the promise obtained by the reality of the redemption wrought by Jesus her Son in his death and resurrection – just so that we could be with him and her and all the saints and angels forever in our Father's House!
O Mary, our Mother – splendorous woman, clothed with the sun, having the moon beneath your feet – pray for us all, now and at hour of our deaths, so that we may enjoy your company in that great experience of living in God's heart forever!
God bless you!
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