Reflection on the Solemnity of the Assumption

Sr Elizabeth Ruth recently shared a reflection with the community, inspired by the upcoming Solemnity of Our Lady’s Assumption and full of hope . Here is an extract:

The Assumption is Our Lady’s Easter. Her Easter in high summer complements the springtime Easter of her son. He died prematurely young in the springtime of his life; she died full of years in a blessed old age.

At the Transfiguration, Jesus’ divinity shone through in his flesh. Who he really was as Son of God was revealed to his disciples. Here, in Mary’s Assumption, what and who she is shines through. On earth she was just one woman among many, whose son had suffered, who lived a life like ours in its day-to-day routine. But now that her earthly life has been completed, who she really is is reflected in her body, in her whole being. She exists now in the radiance of Christ’s resurrection, and forever.

This feast reminds us that we, too, are destined for glory; that one day who we really are will shine through. Not what we pretended to be, not the image we tried to project, not our disguises and dissimulations. We will live in the light of God where the truth shines out. If Julian of Norwich is to be believed, even our forgiven sins and failings will appear on us, not as disfigurements but as “honourable scars, so that we do not forget our creaturehood and all that we owe to God’s mercy.”

Each one of us carries the radiance of Christ within, but we do not see it in ourselves or in one another because we are taken up with appearances, whereas the reality is different.

In the Gospel of the Feast’s day Mary sings her Magnificat; that God has blessed her; that He has done marvellous things in her and for her. The Magnificat should be the song of each one of us.

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is His name… and His mercy is from generation to generation…

Let us end with a hymn by Hildegarde of Bingen, a woman who also knew how to sing the Magnificat in her own life, and communicate joy, hope and healing to others in preparation for the blessings of eternity.

Mary, luminous Mother,
Holy, healing art!
Eve brought sorrow to the soul,
But by your holy Son
You pour balm on death’s wounds and travail.
You have indeed conquered death!
Ask for us life. Ask for us radiant joy.
Ask for the sweet, delicious ecstasy
That is forever yours. Amen