Aug 15 — Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The commemoration of the death of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Dormition, or falling asleep, as it was known in the East) is known as the Assumption because of the tradition that her body did not decay but that she was raised up, body and soul, into heaven. This tradition was already present in the sixth century; by the beginning of the twentieth century it was widespread (for details, see this article in the Catholic Encyclopaedia); and after consulting the views of bishops all over the world, the Pope formally and infallibly declared the doctrine of the Assumption to be part of the authentic and ancient doctrine of the universal Church.
— Universalis
Apo 11:19,12:1-6,10
1 Cor 15:20-26
Lk 1:39-56
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour.
Childbirth is a strange human experience that not everyone goes through. I say this not to alienate those who have not, or cannot partake of this experience. I say it in awe and wonder that God, who created us humans as man and woman, decided that men will not ever experience this. So it is without doubt that God chose and anointed only one sex to potentially be the bearer of new life. What a hefty gift and duty it is for us women. This isn’t a charge of favouritism, but it certainly bears much thought!
In this process of pregnancy, there is a life-changing concoction of joy and fear, anticipation and nerves, amazement and worry. Every moment is a new experience; every new life carried within a woman is charged with a force and potential like no other. And so it was too, for the months Mary bore Jesus in her womb.
God specifically chose Mary to be the Ark of the Covenant in the New Testament. She was ordinary yet chosen. This was His plan — to bring Christ, the Salvation, to all peoples regardless of their heritage and lineage from the Israelites. In the first reading of the Apocalypse (12:1-6), there was a detailed description of a woman who was pregnant and crying in the pangs of childbirth. Yet in the midst of this, there was a terrible second sign — that of a huge and terrifying red dragon — waiting to devour the child as soon as it was born from its mother. Ask any mother to picture this scene, and they would be livid, horrified, and definitely try to morph into a protective and fearsome Mama Bear and defend her newborn child. In my mind, Mary would not be any different.
At the same time, scripture doesn’t tell us what the woman did, except to say that the child was immediately taken straight up to God and to his throne; while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had provided her a place of safety. What does this mean as we contemplate this particular Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary?
As I meditated on the scripture readings on this feast day, particularly the Gospel passage of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth and the words of her Magnificat, I could not help but be awed at how Mary’s demeanour is never one of aggression or fearsomeness. In fact, Mary’s stance in challenging situations is of collected peace, calm, and deep faithful obedience to God. Mary entrusted everything about her life into God’s hands. Her ‘Fiat’ was decidedly complete and utterly surrendered. In fact, her Magnificat describes her posture of joyful surrender and glorification of God. We know how the story ends — with her broken-hearted sacrifice as a mother at the cross.
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.’
At the point of childbirth, a woman experiences a great indescribable pain, muscular contractions in her womb that send triggers of involuntary convulsions in her body, arching her back, sometimes even extending to the extremities of her limbs. A woman is asked to “push” and activate the abdominal muscles to contract in time with her breathing, and yet, she is also asked to “relax” and not contract her cervical muscles which is the birth canal through which the baby will pass through. What a confusing dilemma of action and surrender amidst great physical pain. A process that even puts a mother in grave life-and-death situations.
Our Holy Mother is a paramount example for us of being capable of magnificent love and sacrifice. As holy as she is, she is also profoundly human — having partaken in the painful act of childbirth that her ancestors went through. During our times of immense suffering and confusion, we can meditate on her life, courage and devotion; and, truly call on her example of joyful surrender to God. Through her great love for God the Father and Christ her son, Mary was able to live hopefully into the Eternity that was prepared for her. May we too, whether women or men, ponder on her remarkable choices and entrust our lives, our children, and even our most precious projects into God’s plan.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Mother Mary, stay with us in our time of need; comfort and strengthen us with your motherly wisdom and assurance. Guide us toward a path of holiness that is ours alone, and a way that we may glorify God uniquely, just as you did with your life.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you for the great things you have done for me. May I always recall the stories of glory you have bestowed on me, so I may pass on my own Magnificat as a legacy of faith for my children, my grandchildren, and those around me.
OXYGEN 
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