Assumption of Mary
Thinking back over the last 2 summers, there have been a lot of protests. There have been a lot of important moments with leaders and crowds and tension building up. Protests over race and policing and lock-downs and mandates – some have been peaceful and some have been violent. We can imagine crowds with lines drawn easily these days.
Fast-forward to John’s Revelation. Chapter 12. Verse 1.
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.”
We know from John’s massive hint at the end of Chapter 11 about the Ark of the Covenant that this woman is Mary. Mary is the one who, like the Ark – held in her womb the Bread of God (manna), the High Priest of God (Aaron’s rod) and the Word of God (stone tablets). This imagery is the imagery of royalty – a Queen of Heaven. But let’s follow the story – what comes next? The Queen gives birth to a son who is promised to reign and a terrible dragon appears on the scene. We pick it up in verse 7:
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.”
We’ll leave the story there – but take notice that at the forefront – at the very front lines of the start of the battle of End Times, the very end of the world as we know… it all begins with Mary, the Queen of Heaven. We think there is tension in our streets today? Imagine being the Queen of Heaven who stands in front of the legions of angelic hosts holding them back until the moment of the dragon’s appearing?
So what does this have to do with us?
Mary’s Assumption finds fulfillment and foundation in her role as Queen of Heaven. It can be easy for us to forget the whole picture. Of course we have Jesus – our Paschal Lamb, our High Priest and our King. And we have with Michael, our archangel and our Protector against the “wickedness and snares of the devil”. And we have all the angels and saints who are praying for us and interceding for us and fighting for us. But lest we forget – we have our Mother too. Our Queen. The one who starts the whole final battle.
Let’s not forget who Mary is. She is the one who was “kecharitomene”: a very complex ancient Greek word that many translate - “full of grace”. There wasn’t a moment in Mary’s human existence where she didn’t experience the fullness of everything offered to you and me at our baptism. She was present for it all: Jesus’ birth, His first miracle, His ministry, His preaching, His death and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. She is our Queen and on this blessed celebration of her Assumption into her Heavenly throne – let us all recall what she told the servants:
“Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5).
Think of your life today. What is going wrong? What is bothering you? What is a disaster? What about your future? What about your plans and your hopes and dreams? What would the woman who holds back the Heavenly host from battle tell you? What would the peasant girl who gave her “yes” to Gabriel say? How would the mother who watched her only son die on the cross for sins he didn’t commit advise you? It probably your best bet to listen to your Mother. She’s powerful and she’s tender but she’s firm:
“Do whatever He tells you.”
