A Catholic Sunday school teacher had just finished explaining the Feast of the Assumption to her class.

She said, “Now, let all those children who want to go to Heaven to see their Heavenly Mother raise
their hands.” All the children raised their hands except little Marie in the front row. “Don’t you want
to go to Heaven, Marie?” asked the teacher. “I can’t,” said Marie tearfully. “My mother told me to
come straight home after Sunday school.
The feast of Assumption was declared in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The Feast of the Assumption is one of
the most important feasts of our Lady.
What message do we take with us today on this feast of Assumption? The message we can take with us
is that God is faithful to His promise of divine mercy. The feast is the celebration of God's faithfulness
to his lowly servants.
In the Magnificat, the song of Mary given in today’s Gospel, Mary acknowledges that “the Almighty
has done great things” for her. Besides honoring her as Jesus’ mother, God has blessed her with the gift
of bodily Assumption. Thus, the feast of the Assumption celebrates the mercy of God, or the victory
of God’s mercy, as expressed in Mary’s Magnificat.
Mother Mary’s assumption communicates that God, who has “lifted up” His “lowly servant” Mary, lifts
up all the lowly, not only because they are faithful, but also because God is faithful to the promise of
Divine mercy. That means this feast reminds us that all of us have the “Privilege of Assumption into
Glory.”
We need to examine, “Are we, lowly servants? Who are lowly servants?”
Let us find the answer to these questions while reflecting on the life of Mother Mary.

The Assumption was the reward God granted to our Blessed Mother for the Right use of Her Freedom!
Freedom plays a vital role in the destiny… of a person, of a family, of a society, of a nation, of the
world!
Mother Mary was invited to be the mother of God by Angel Gabriel… in true freedom, She said Yes!
Mother Mary felt the need to be a Helper of the Needy by her cousin Elizabeth, in true freedom, She
said Yes!
Mother Mary was to be a model of Patience in difficulties at the birth of Jesus … in true freedom, She
said Yes!
Mother Mary was requested to be a Silent Contemplative during His boyhood, in true freedom, She
said Yes!
Mother Mary sensed an urgency to be an Intercessor before God at Cana, in true freedom, She said
Yes!
Mother Mary was called to be a Serene Bearer during the Passion of the Lord, in true freedom, She said
Yes!
Mother Mary was called to be a Model of Prayer in the Upper Room, in true freedom, She said Yes!
The responsible use of freedom is a sign of true and authentic spirituality and is a pathway to greater
glory!
Freedom is not simply doing what we want. Freedom is assuming responsibility for our and others’
lives!
Freedom is not simply getting our pleasures fulfilled. Freedom is fulfilling our tasks in the best way
possible!
The Assumption of Blessed Mother Mary is an invitation and a challenge for each one of us….
… To focus our attention on things of heaven & transcendence and not get fixated with cares of this
world!
… To live a life of holiness and purity and seeking to do God’s will at all times and in every situation!
… To share with the pain and passion of the Lord and become partakers in the salvation of the world!
… To realize that to be Holy & a Saint is a call of every Christian & we need to prioritize our life on
them!
We need to be reminded that Mary had exclaimed, “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38)
Mary was an ordinary human being.
She, too, had ordinary and humble beginnings. She, too, went through everyday life’s struggles and
strains like us.
But through these “ordinary” circumstances…
• God “raised” Her to the Heights
• God “assumed” Her into Glory
… simply because She lived a life worthy of that call in total submission, humility, and obedience
and “found favor with God”.
This, then, is our call too…
As Baptized Christians, we have “found favor” with God. We dwell in “ordinary” circumstances of life
– with hardships and pains.
But if we also live a life worthy of our call, in total submission, humility, and obedience to God,
… the glory which Jesus has “won” for us at Resurrection, can be ours!
This is what the Feast of Assumption communicates to us.
Are we ready to cooperate with God’s plans in our lives, just as Mother Mary did…
… and thus receive the “Privilege of Assumption into Glory” just as Mother Mary received?
Let us keep asking this question and examine ourselves. May God continue to accompany us in our
faith journey and bless us with His grace and strength.