Mary's victory and ours (Assumption homily)

The first reading from Revelation presents vivid images— 

it helps if we try to see what it’s describing: 

A sign in heaven: the ark of the covenant—a woman, with child! 

But the scene does not stay peaceful: a huge, red dragon. 

The dragon with seven crowns stands for all that tries to rule us, 

to displace Christ as the true king. 

And this fake king still sweeps away a third of the stars of heaven,

and seems poised to devour the Child. 

Does it not often seem that evil is winning? 

Do we not often fear that our hope will be devoured?

We wonder why God doesn’t win the way we think he should. 

But God acts, and saves the Child, and the Woman flees to the desert. 

This of course is Jesus, and his mother Mary.

She is also an image of the Church, because she is Jesus’ first and best disciple. 

She is a symbol of us, challenged by evil, yet faithfully waiting. 

So what does all this have to do with the Feast of the Assumption?

Today, you and I celebrate Mary’s complete victory – she is home! 

At the same time, we are reassured the same victory lies ahead for us.

When I was a seminarian, I spent a year in Piqua as an intern – 

 just as Isaiah Callan will be doing here, starting in a week or so. 

Often I would give lessons to the school children – 

again, as Isaiah will also be doing. 

One day my task was to explain what we believe about Mary to first graders. 

Not an easy task! 

So I arranged a skit. One child would be the Angel Gabriel; 

one child would be Mary; and to one child, I said, 

“you’re Jesus in heaven; watch as Gabriel asks Mary to have you as a baby. 

Listen for Mary’s answer—and without words, show your reaction. 

So: Gabriel asked, then Mary said, “yes,” 

And then the child who was “Jesus” started jumping up for joy! 

There it is, even a child gets it: we Christians ache with love for Mary. 

And Jesus gets it too; how can a grateful Son not lavish gifts on his mother? 

We believe, as St. John Damascene said, 

It was necessary that she who had preserved her virginity inviolate in childbirth 

should also have her body kept free from all corruption after death; 

It was necessary that she who had carried the Creator as a child on her breast 

should dwell in the tabernacles of God. 

It was necessary that she who had gazed on her crucified Son 

and been pierced in the heart by the sword of sorrow… 

should contemplate him seated with the Father. 

It was necessary that the Mother of God should share the possessions of her Son, 

and be venerated by every creature as the Mother and handmaid of God. 

 As Mary herself said: “All generations will call me blessed.” 

Today you and I happily fulfill that prophecy.