Feast of the Assumption

One of the dangers I perceive in honouring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, without remembering her role as exemplar of the Church, is that we separate her off from the rest of humanity. She is not a goddess. She has priority in our affections and our esteem however, like our own mothers, her humanity remains only it has been glorified in the resurrection in a way that we pray, in due course, all of us will be. Vatican II tells us: " In the interim just as the Mother of Jesus, glorified in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected is the world to come, so too does she shine forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come, as a sign of sure hope and solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth." (Lumen Gentium, 68) It is clear from today's Second Reading that the resurrection of the dead will not happen all at once. St Paul tells us: "For since death came through ahuman being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be mnade alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Cor 15: 22-23) Our Lady gives us hope that we can join Christ in his glory if we imitate her in her holiness, docility to God's will and faitfhfulness to her Son. Her intercession assists us in our prayers and inspires us to greater devotion. She does indeed proceed us but this was so that she might light the way to those who follow.