Homily: April 15, 2023, Solemnity of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

I remember vividly how it was to attend Holy Mass in India on the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because this feast day always coincides with the Independence Day of India.

So, every year after Mass on this solemnity, the priest will proceed out to the church parking to raise the national flag, and the congregation will sing the national anthem of India. My family has never missed any Mass on this solemnity and day of obligation.

The Catholic and Orthodox church celebrate this solemnity since ancient times and accord importance to the believe that Mary is assumed into heaven. It is one of the four Marian Dogmas of the Catholic Church. In our Eastern tradition, this feast was known as the Dormition of the Blessed Mother. ‘Dormitio’ in Latin means ‘falling asleep’. Our Orthodox and Oriental Catholics take this solemnity very seriously, they would abstain from meat for 15 days in preparation for this feast, accompanied by other self-mortification acts.

Today’s first reading begins like this: 'God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.'

Mary is known as the new 'Ark of the Covenant.' In the old Ark of the Covenant, there were three things: the Ten Commandments, the budded staff of Aaron and the pot of manna. While the Son of God was incarnated in her womb, Mary carried Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the law and prophets; he is the eternal high priest and truly the bread of life from heaven. The old Ark of the Covenant is the foreshadow of the new and true Ark of the Covenant, that is Mary.

So now, the Ark is seen in the temple of heaven, that clearly means that the Blessed Virgin Mary is in heaven and the doors of heaven are opened for us. 

As God was merciful and generous to Mary, He too is merciful and generous with us. The joy of this feast is the assurance that our Mother is indeed in heaven, looking at us, showering her love on us and interceding for us.

Let us pray and ask for the grace to be able to see her face to face, especially in our last moments of life. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.


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