A Reflection for the Feast of the Assumption 2023

An often-sung hymn during my old school morning assemblies was, “Jesus, good above all other, gentle child of gentle mother.” Our Lord most certainly had the right to describe himself as ‘good’; and he did so… in John’s gospel we hear him say of himself… “I am the good shepherd.” It’s the Greek word ‘Kállos’ (κάλλος) that’s used in that case to mean “Good”, but importantly, ‘Kállos’ signifies much more than goodness. It also means ‘beauty’ – but more than mere beauty; it conveys something of the physical appearance, yes, but also of the virtues of the soul. The Good Shepherd is therefore, the Beautiful and Virtuous Shepherd. Of course, these are the qualities that make Jesus compellingly attractive; they give rise to that amazing charisma which caused the first disciples to drop what they’re doing and immediately follow him when called.

Today, as we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, we do well to remind ourselves that our Lord derives his beauty not just from being very God of very God, but also, by being his mother’s Son. Jesus is beautiful because Mary is beautiful too. They share the kind of beauty which countless artists, down the years, have done their best to capture. This beauty is no less a moral quality; Mary, by example, raises Jesus to be good. You may well recall that after losing the young Jesus for three days whilst on a journey, Mary and Joseph find him in the Temple engaging with teachers, after which he then returns to Nazareth with them and, according to St. Luke, is obedient to them. So, this word ‘Good’, means beautiful and of high moral standing too, but it has a practical side too; on could add to the list of valid meanings... ‘effective’, and ‘fit for purpose’. All these attributes apply equally to Mary, from whom, in his humanity, our Lord acquired them.

Clearly, Mary had a unique and vital role in God’s plan for our salvation in the way that she was chosen, not only to bring Jesus into the world, but ultimately, to be united with Jesus in his victory over sin and death. Mary was predisposed to say ‘yes’ to God not just by his grace, but by her anticipation of what Christ would achieve. She was thoroughly equipped for her unique vocation which, not only preceded our Lord’s earthly ministry, but continues beyond it. Mary’s vocation continues today; yes, within the Communion of Saints, but specifically, as the honourable title afforded her, Queen of Heaven. If Mary’s life and earthly ministry were unique and special concerning her Son, is it any wonder that at her death, she was reunited with him in a special way? Surely, no less unique a manner would have been fitting! As the Son was conformed to his mother in obedience to the Father’s will; in her taking her place in heaven, she is now conformed to her Son, as conqueror over sin and death, in glory. The importance for us, is that the assumption of Mary is both her own singular participation in her son’s resurrection, but an anticipation too, of our own resurrection and heavenly inheritance.

These wonderful truths and aspects of beauty concerning Mary are always best illustrated by the writings of the Saints and Fathers. Whenever I want to contemplate the Annunciation, I turn to St. Bernard, whose 12th Century homilies capture not only the practicalities of Gabriel’s appearance and the message, but what was riding on Our Lady’s answer. He sets forth, from the perspective of an observer, a commentary on the dialogue between angel and virgin, but we hear too the impassioned plea of heaven, the plea of patriarchs and prophets, for her acceptance to do the will of God. When I want to contemplate the Assumption, I turn to St John of Damascus, and his 9th century texts. Like Bernard, with God’s word, the faith, and the Church’s tradition as his sources, he puts himself in the scene as an observer and describes with great eloquence what he sees. What does he see? – he sees Mary, he sees beauty, that Kallos, beyond comparison, surrounded by those to whom she had

become a mother after her creator and redeemer, whom she bore, had himself departed this earth for his heavenly throne. St John notes the distress of those for whom Mary had become their only consolation on earth; to live and die in her company, they saw as the preserve of the blessed. “Stay with us”, must have been their plea, as they face Mary’s departure. Yet, in noting the Mother of God’s hastening towards the end of her life, indeed, her eagerness for it, and moved by divine grace, their words turn from those of a desire that she stay, to those expressing a resignation that it is right and good for her now to be re-united with her son and that she receive the hidden mysteries which were to come. St John imagines there being hymns sung in thanksgiving to God as they avail themselves of Mary’s blessing, her final words, as a God-given treasure. Finally, they hear the voice of their risen and ascended Lord, calling for the one who brought him to birth, that he might receive her soul into his presence. “Into your hands, I commend my spirit”, may well have been, Our Lady’s final breath. Our Lord’s response?... “Come, my blessed mother, into the place of rest”. St John then sees the sacred body of Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, being caried from her place of dormition in Zion on the shoulders of the apostles, through the streets of Jerusalem, with great ceremony and attendant angels, to the tomb in Gethsemane; where, clothed in fresh linen, with perfume and amidst lamps, the earth finds itself sanctified by the deposition of her body. St John suggests, fittingly, that the way in which the spotless body which came from Mary, rose on the third day from the tomb, Mary’s own body should see neither corruption nor decay, but also, be taken up to that greater and more perfect place. She who gave refuge to God the Word, in her womb, should now dwell in the tabernacle of her beloved son. Believe me, St. John’s words are far more eloquent and poetic than the ones I have used to convey their meaning – you should read them sometime.

Today, we have need to celebrate Mary’s life and to marvel at her assumption into heaven, from where she intercedes for us and directs the attention of our Lord, as she did at Canna’s wedding feast, to all our causes for concern. Glory be to God. Amen.

Fr Terry