Assumption of the Bl.Virgin Mary,Kaitha 6,Aug.15,10

Assumption, Kaitha 6thS,Aug.15,10

(Jn.2:11-19)

Today we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Bl. Virgin Mary, a feast that is very close to the heart of every Catholic. The name of the Bl. Virgin Mary evokes in our hearts all the sweet memories of her protection, guidance and intercession for us. Wordsworth, one of the great poets of English Literature has said very beautifully of Mary that “ she is the tainted nature’s solitary boast.” The great Protestant Church historian Jarslov Pelican who was a former professor at Yale University wrote in his book on Mary that one of the great weaknesses of Protestantism was that it neglected the role of Mary in Christianity. He added: “It is impossible to understand the history of Western spirituality and devotion without paying attention to the place of the incomparable role played by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the salvation history of the human race.

The Assumption of the Bl. Virgin Mary was declared a doctrine of the Church on Nov.1, 1950 by Pope Pius Xll with these words: “ The immaculate mother of God, the ever virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

What this doctrine means is that as Mary was free from the original sin because of her being the Mother of God, she could not be subject to decay and disintegration. She was granted the privilege of the glory of the Resurrection at the end of her life that we would enjoy at our Resurrection.

In the early centuries of Christian history, there arose a dispute on the role and title of Mary. The Fathers of the Church decided once and for all the role of Mary at the Council of Ephesus. At the Council of Ephesus in 431, Mary was declared Theotokos, the Mother of God. From that time onwards feast days in honor of Mary began to be celebrated in the Church.

What does the Assumption of Mary mean for each one of us? How does it influence our lives? The Assumption of Mary holds in anticipation our own resurrection, the integration of our body and soul at the end of our earthly existence. It means that death has no final say over our lives and it offers us hope in times of despair and diffidence.

In today’s Gospel, we see the great concern and love that Mary has for those who are in need of help and assistance. At the wedding feast at Cana, even without being asked for help, our Blessed Mother came to the help of the family and requested her son to do a miracle for them Jesus acceding to her request, even before the assigned time of the public revelation of his ministry, came to the rescue of the family because of the insistence of Mary. This is what our Bl. Mother will be doing for us. She will be constantly interceding or us before her Son. As she spoke for the family with the words, “ They have no more wine”, she will be speaking for us , raising our needs and our helplessness before Jesus.

She would be speaking for each one us in our hour of trial and suffering: “They have no wine, they are suffering, they have sicknesses and problems .” She would be pleading for us when we are hurting or suffering.

Mary has weathered the storm and turbulence of life. She stood at the foot of the Cross at the moment of her greatest agony and suffering, showing us through that act that it is not impossible to accept the tragedies and hardships of life as long as Jesus is with us. Mary exemplifies for us the right model of a Christian life. She is the lodestar for us in our pilgrimage on earth, guiding us to Jesus Christ, through the storms and turbulence of life.

As the French poet Claudel has said, let us also say: “Because you are there forever, simply because you are Mary, simply because you exist, Mother of Jesus Christ, we thank you.”