HOMILY for the SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - August 15, 2018 - The readings can be found at: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081518-day-mass.cfm
The
Church has believed in what we celebrate today - that the Blessed Virgin Mary
was assumed both body and soul into heaven, that she was spared the corruption
of death - from the earliest days of the Church. When you think about it, it makes sense...
from the earliest centuries, we knew where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose
from the dead. We know where the tombs
of Peter and Paul and the apostles are located.
All of those places remain places of pilgrimage. People went and still go to visit them.
But
for the blessed Mother - there was no such place. There was always some understanding that she
was not buried anywhere. There were
theological arguments about whether she actually died and then her body was
taken up to heaven on the third day (I think that’s the Orthodox belief, which
refers to this feast day not as the Assumption but the Dormition - the going to
sleep - but that eventually when the tomb was opened it was found empty or with
just the burial clothes and fresh lillies).
And some might visit the place of “dormition” but it’s never been viewed
as a burial place, as a tomb...
This
tradition though, was one of those things that was assumed (pun intended). Early Christians didn’t fight about it. They were closer to all the events of Jesus’
life and the formation of the Church that it would make sense that the Mother
of God, who had been divinely called and prepared to be the mother of Jesus -
and responded with a heartfelt, genuine, sincere Yes to God as we heard in
scripture today - she would be the first one to experience the Easter reward
herself.
But
in 1950, Pope Pius XII made the declaration official Church teaching... In fact
it’s considered only the second time that “Papal infalability” (meaning that
the Pope was teaching something that was free from error and something that was
official Church teaching) was ever invoked in the Church. It inspired a lot of criticism, debate, that
in some ways hasn’t really been settled between Catholics and other Christians.
I
realize that those criticims, debates and such pale in comparison with how a
great number of people understandably feel towards Church authority on a day
like this in light of the terrible news stories today. But stick with me...
One
of the reasons I bring the history of the feast up is to ask the question - Why
- Why would Paul XII even open up controversy where there really didn’t
need to be? Why cause more tension,
theological debates on something that was generally understood and wasn’t
really a controversy?
There’s
theological reasons and answers. But
more importantly there was a very pastoral one.
Back in 1950, when this Doctrine was declared – World War II had only
ended a few years prior. Unlike our
instant news feeds of today - the full horror of that time took time to be
revealed and understood. The atrocities
that had been committed are testified with two Church saints St. Edith Stein
and St. Maximilian Kolbe - who died on August 9 and August 13 – both in
concentration camps. In addition, the
world was recognizing that those atrocities were ended through some
horrific means (the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - also
in August on the 6th and the 9th killing over 80,000
people immediately and tens of thousands years later from the radiation) In
short, it was a bleak and dark time in world history.
That’s
one of the reasons that Pius XII saw the importance of declaring in August of
1950 that “the august Mother of God, mysteriously united from all eternity
with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in
her conception, a virgin inviolate in her divine motherhood, the wholehearted
companion of the divine Redeemer who won complete victory over sin and its
consequences, gained at last the supreme crown of her privileges to be
preserved immune from the corruption of the tomb, and like her Son, when death
had been conquered, to be carried up body and soul to the exalted glory of
heaven.”
Pius XII wanted to re-emphasize,
remind the world, through the example of the Blessed Mother, that Jesus Christ
alone conquers sin, conquers death. And
the most important thing the Church does is to proclaim that. And that after that bleak period of human
history which was surrounded solely on sin and death, declaring something that
was already believed in the Assumption of Mary renewed hope for millions of
Catholics. Reminded us of our purpose
and our calling.
That
seems to be of great need and importance today.
When the stories of the disgraced ex-cardinal McCarrick have already
shocked and enraged - to be met with the stories of PA with details that I dare
not utter out of an abundance of concern not to scandalize or hurt anyone -
people are rightly hurt and angry. I am
hurt and angry - more than I can express.
For
me, and for each of us who desires to achieve holiness in spite of that hurt
and anger, we need Mary’s words from today’s scripture which gives us the first
proclamation of the Gospel. Mary
understands and declares all that God will do in Jesus Christ. She knows that in the promise she has
received from the Father, all of human history is to be turned upside
down. Even more, she knows that she is,
herself, the first participant in this new history.
She is the lowly one whom God has
lifted up.
She is the loving daughter on whom
God has looked with favor.
She witnessed the proud in their
conceit who were scattered and will be again.
She embodies the good news she proclaims: the Gospel of forgiveness,
compassion and humble service to others, justice and ultimately
resurrection.
One
thing that I’m thankful for from our current Pope, Francis, was his promoting
another Marian devotion that turned out to be known by great numbers of people
for years but didn’t gain in popularity until recently - the title Our Lady,
Undoer of Knots. (http://www.theholyrosary.org/maryundoerknots)
As hurt and angry at how so many in the Church have not just created knots but
attempted to burn the rope in pools of gasoline - it’s probably never been more
urgent than it is today for us to take that hurt and anger to the Blessed
Mother, to help us work through all of these - and the countless problems,
struggles that we find not only in the church but in our lives that seem
hopeless. Looking once again to that
ever perfect, virgin and mother to pray for us...today and always.
HOMILY for the SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - August 15, 2018 - The readings can be found at: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081518-day-mass.cfm 
