BLESSED ARE YOU MARY, AMONG ALL WOMEN. (Homily for August 15, 2016. Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.)


Bible Study: Revelation 11, 19 to 12, 1 to 10. 1st Corinthians 15, 20 to 27. Luke 1, 39 to 56.


Today is the 15th of August, a day we celebrate the glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God into heaven.

Wondering what that means? Pause for a while and think about how Elijah’s life on earth came to an end before handing over to Elisha. 

We read from 2 Kings 2:9-13 “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit." And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so." And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. And he took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

Did Elijah die? Yes and No. Yes, because he is not around anymore on earth. No, because we cannot find where his body was buried. If God could be this gracious to his prophet, then how about his own mother?

When we speak of the Assumption of Mary, we do not mean it in terms of “Presumption.” We are not saying that since we cannot find her body or where she was buried, she ‘probably’ went to heaven. The word ‘assumption’ has a different meaning in this context than when we say something like: “Assuming you have two cars…” It is possible you do not have two cars but you are asked to assume so. That is NOT what “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” means.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 966:

“Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.

In other words, when we say Mary was assumed into heaven, we are not merely imagining a possibility, we are saying in essence that Mary was TAKEN UP into heaven. For instance, if I say “I have assumed office as president of Nigeria”, it means, I have taken up the position of being president. This is what Assumption of Mary signifies.

Yes, unlike the case of Elijah, Mary’s move into heaven is not vividly documented in the Bible at least not directly. Once again, we are reminded that the fact that something is not contained in the Bible does not mean it is not true as the Bible does not contain all the truths in the world. For instance, I was born in Nigeria but this fact is not contained in the Bible, my birth certificate confirms that it is true that I was born in Nigeria but I can’t quote a verse to support that.

Nonetheless, our readings at Mass today give us helpful clues as to what actually happened. The first reading is a passage from the book of Revelation. It speaks of a woman who was at the point of giving birth to a great child and a dragon stood there waiting to devour the child only for the child to be taken up into heaven while she went free. The second reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians compares Christ with Adam. While Adam represents the entrance of sin and death to mankind, Christ represents the redemption and resurrection of mankind so for Mary to have given birth to Christ, she is no ordinary woman.

The Gospel passage from Luke describes the meeting of two women, two living miracles whose lives were so transformed by the action of the Holy Spirit, one pregnant even though passed the age of child-bearing, the other pregnant even though she had never known a man before. The lives of Elizabeth and Mary are proofs that there is no such thing as IMPOSSIBILITY when it comes to God.

If God could make a virgin pregnant, what is there in taking up a person body and soul into heaven?

The words of Elizabeth to Mary defines her uniqueness amongst everything that God ever created. “Blessed are you among women.” No woman can ever be more popular than Mary, no woman can ever rise to a more glorious position than Mary, and no woman’s name will ever be mentioned on the lips of millions and millions of generations upon generations to come like the name of Mary.

Why do we honour Mary? Because she is blessed. According to a reflection I read recently, Mary represents the third and final ARK of God. First there was Noah’s Ark which preserved the family of Noah from the flood when God destroyed the earth completely because of sin. But sin ruled the world again and God decided to form a new people, this time, he gave them the Ark of the Covenant on Mount Sinai. That ark contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments. But again sin continued to take men away from God so he then decided to bring his Son Jesus Christ, this time, the ark that carried him into the world was not made of wood or stone but flesh, this third and final ark was Mary herself. Was this ark to be toiled with as the other two? Never.

The first ark is no more. Nobody knew where Noah left the ark. Solomon built a magnificent temple for the second ark, a temple which was eventually destroyed and only a wall of it stands today. Hence, it was absolutely necessary that God himself should build a temple for the third ark, Mary, in a place where no human power can destroy. This is what we celebrate today; Mary’s arrival (body and soul preserved) into the temple of heaven.

In conclusion, what exactly is the significance of today’s feast for us? Our opening prayer at mass gives us a good answer. It prays: “Grant we pray, that always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers in her (Mary’s) glory.

Each time we take our minds from the world to think consciously and deliberately of heaven, we actually give a great boost to our faith. It is an exercise that we must continue every day. Think of heaven, think of home, long for heaven, and allow your mind to dwell on the lives of the saints.

Colossians 3, 1 to 2: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Never forget home. Be like the Israelites who sang this song in captivity: Psalm 137, 1to 5. By the rivers of Babylon-- there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion… For there our captors asked us for songs … "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you did not allow your mother to experience corruption on earth, grant that through her intercession, I may one day come over to join you in heaven. Amen

Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.

Happy anniversary to all priests ordained today and all who are celebrating theirs this very week. Mary, mother of priests, pray for us.

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