Reflecting Mary's Joy

Homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
15 August 2014

        Joy.

        Mary’s life is an exceptional example of a life full of joy.

        Today we celebrate Mary’s entrance into the fullness of joy that she modeled for us in her life here on Earth. We also celebrate the fact that God gives us Mary as the example of what we are to become.

        But we can only do that by joy.

        Each day we are called to echo Mary’s song of praise – the Magnificat. Each day we are called to exhibit the joy of encountering Jesus Christ. Each day we are to imitate Mary through living in intimate ecstasy with our God, a relationship that we celebrate here with reckless abandon.

        Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, reminds us that:

Mary was able to turn a stable into a home for Jesus, with poor swaddling clothes and an abundance of love. She is the handmaid of the Father who sings his praises. She is the friend who is ever concerned that wine not be lacking in our lives. She is the woman whose heart was pierced by a sword and who understands all our pain. As mother of all, she is a sign of hope for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice. She is the missionary who draws near to us and accompanies us throughout life, opening our hearts to faith by her maternal love. (EG 286)

        It is because of her intimacy with our God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – that Mary is able to be joyful in the fulfilling of her vocation, even when that vocation may seem overwhelming and impossible to bear. It is here, then, where we, too, enter into that intimacy with our God so that we may be able to joyfully fulfill the vocation which God has given to us, no matter how overwhelming or impossible it may seem at times.

        It is here that we joyfully turn our hearts into a home for Jesus. It is here where we, the sons and daughters of the Father, joyfully sing His praises. It is here where we learn that joyful concern so that nothing is lacking in the lives of our family and friends. It is here that we acknowledge our pain and learn to bear it with joy. It is here that we pray that all our brothers and sisters know of the joy of God’s justice. It is here that we joyfully open our hearts to faith, accompanying others to know Jesus through our missionary activities.

        My brothers and sisters, if we hope to be one day where Mary is now, then we need to learn how to live our lives with joy. As we continue to echo Mary’s song of praise, we continue to wait with joyful hope for the day we share the life that Mary and all the angels and saints share in. And so we pray:

Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ’s presence,
you brought joy to John the Baptist,
making him exult in the womb of his mother.
Brimming over with joy,
you sang of the great things done by God.
Standing at the foot of the cross
with unyielding faith,
you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection,
and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit
so that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardor born of the resurrection,
that we may bring to all the Gospel of life
which triumphs over death.
Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,
that the gift of unfading beauty
may reach every man and woman. 

Virgin of listening and contemplation,
Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,
pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are,
that she may never be closed in on herself
or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.

Star of the new evangelization,
help us to bear radiant witness to communion,
service, ardent and generous faith,
justice and love of the poor,
that the joy of the Gospel
may reach to the ends of the earth,
illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.

Amen. Alleluia!

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Enjoy the journey . . .