Fr. Anthony
By Fr. Anthony Kibira MCCJ
When we celebrate the assumption of Mary into heaven, we look at God who took her in His extraordinary care. Her assumption is one of the “privileges” granted exclusively to her. We believe that God preserved her from the stain of Original sin. As mother of the Saviour, she remained a virgin and thus ever receptive of God’s abundant grace. It is right for us to say that Mary is full of grace. She understood her littleness and let the Almighty work for her and in her. At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven.
God was at work in Mary to preserve her from the corruption of the grave. The body that bore God and participated in the battle of life has been granted the privilege of participating in the victory of the God of life. The whole person (body and soul) matters for God. This should encourage us to give diligent care to our bodies, for, though frail and perishable, they are, temples of God’s Holy Spirit.
We should not submit the body to the corruption of alcohol and other substances. If we say that Mary was full of grace, we should also ask ourselves: “What am I full of?” This motivates us to implore the Lord to fill us with His grace: “Pour forth we beseech you, oh Lord, your grace into our hearts…!” (Angelus prayer). In this way, we recognize our need of and dependence on God.
Mary is a mirror of the Church and the whole of humanity. What God did in and with her is what God wishes to do with the Church, the body of her son and with the rest of humanity. In our veneration of Mary as Mother of God, we ought not to put her only on a podium, and thus, create a distance between her and us. Yes. She was full of grace, but she allowed herself to be filled. Our veneration of her shouldn’t end with admiration, but rather with imitation.
The Church has an elaborated litany of our lady in which many attributes are mentioned about Mary. For us Christians, these attributes should be points of connection with Mary. Due to our human fraility, we may not live all the attributes, but our veneration will have some impact if we try to appropriate at least one attribute of Mary to our own style of life. It is up to each one of us to choose where to start. An example can be: “Mary, the Virgin most prudent”.
Each one of us can imitate Mary in the practice of prudence which involves seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily choices. This will help us to discern the traps of the evil one who often leads us into the corruption of sin. Mary’s assumption into heaven encourages us not to be too much attached to earthly treasures. Many times, humans want to establish themselves on earth as if they have reached their destination. The goal of our pilgrimage as disciples is heaven where we hope to enjoy the eternal union with God. Jesus Christ allows his mother to partake of His life of the resurrection.
God, who preserved Mary from all corruption, wants to preserve an “immaculate space” in each one of us, so that sin may never have control over us. This is what has been promised to all who yield their lives to Him. We ought to allow God to be in charge of our lives. In her hymn of the magnificat, Mary invites us to vacate the throne for God, or else the Almighty will cast us (who think we are mighty) away from the thrones (see Lk 1: 52). Mary lived her humility and God exalted her. What about me? Which throne in my life am I clinging to? Can I let it go so that God may take control of my earthly life and at the end of this pilgrimage; He may give me the throne in heaven?
