Homily * Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady
Totoo nga kayang may forever? This
question became a trending among young people especially with the telenovela “Forevermore”. But what do
you think? May forever nga kaya?
The
question is relevant to our reflection today, the
Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven in body and soul. Our
answer to this question will help us appreciate the relevance of our Lady’s
Assumption in our lives. If there is a “forever”, then Assumption is relevant
to us. If Mary is assumed to heaven, then, there must be a “forever”.
If there is a “forever”, then faithfulness
is possible. Husbands and wives will try to remain faithful to each other if
they both believe in “forever”. If politicians don’t believe in “forever”, we
will never get rid of corruption and selfish interests. If there’s no
“forever”, paano na kaming mga pari at
mga religioso? We left everything for the sake of “forever”. If there’s no
“forever”, young lovers will never believe in real and authentic commitment in
life. Would you truly and honestly say to your beloved “ITALY” (that is, I Trust And Love You) forever, if you believe that “forever” does not exist? ‘Pag ‘di ka naniniwala na may “forever”,
marahil ang love song mo ay “It Might Be You”.
In
the mystery of the Assumption, the Blessed Virgin Mary has confirmed to
herself, and to us today, the truth that “forever” exists. She finally
experienced everlasting life with God. In her, the words of St. Paul in the
Second Reading took place: “That which
is mortal clothes itself with immortality… death is swallowed up in victory”. But
do you know why Mary experienced the “forever”? Because she was faithful to God
and to the mission that God asked her to do. Mary was assumed into heaven, into
the communion forever with God, because she was faithful.
How
was she faithful? First, she bore Jesus in her womb. Second, but more
importantly, she listened to God’s will and followed it. In this way, Mary
shows us today the secret of finding the “forever”: bearing Jesus in our lives and following
God’s will.
Bearing Jesus in our life. In
the First Reading, we heard how David brought the Ark of the Covenant to the
place he had prepared for it. According to the Letter to the Hebrews, “This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had flowered, and the stone tablets of the covenant” (9:4). These three things inside
the Ark of the Covenant point out to Jesus. We know that manna is the bread from heaven. But Jesus Himself is the real Bread
from heaven. The stone tablets contain
the Law of God. And Aaron’s staff that
flowered signifies that he was the chosen leader or prophet of God. Jesus
is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
But
Mary is the true Ark of the Covenant because she did not only bear the holy
things that point out to Jesus: She
carried in her womb Jesus Himself. Indeed, in our Catholic tradition,
especially in the Litany of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, our Blessed Mother is called “Ark of the Covenant”.
We,
Catholics, are also called to be bearers of Christ – to be “Christopher”. Our greatest challenge is
to manifest the presence of Jesus in our lives. Let us strive to let Jesus
shine and be seen in the way we think, in our conversations, in our dealings with
everyone, in our work and relaxation, in our choice of entertainment, in our
decisions.
Yet,
when we strive to be authentically Christians, true followers of Christ, we must
embrace the whole of Christ, including all His teachings and His mentality. We
cannot afford to be like “cafeteria Christians”, who just choose to accept those
teachings of Christ that will fit our taste, our comfort and our preferences.
St.
Josemaria said: “How I wish your bearing
and conversation were such that, on seeing or hearing you, people would say:
This man reads the life of Jesus Christ” (The Way, 2). He added: “Set aflame all the ways of the earth with
the fire of Christ that you bear in your heart” (The Way, 1). True Christians must bear Christ in their
hearts; authentic disciples of Christ strive to manifest Christ in their lives.
Like Mary, true Christians must also become “Arks of the Covenant”.
Doing God´s will. In the Gospel,
a woman cried out: “Blessed is the womb
that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” But Jesus responded:
“Rather, blessed are those who hear the
word of God and observe it.” Jesus did not downgrade the “womb that carried
Him” – His Mother. Instead, He raised Her dignity to the highest level by
emphasizing her faithfulness and obedience to God’s will. St. Augustine said: “Mary was rather blessed by receiving the
faith of Christ than by conceiving the flesh of Christ.”
Saint
Pope John Paul II called Mary as “the Model of Discipleship for the Third
Christian Millennium”. She is our Model of Discipleship because she is the
Model of Faithfulness. Discipleship requires faithfulness. In an era like ours,
that is full of doubts about whether commitment or faithfulness is still possible,
the Catholic Church presents Mary as a proof that “Yes, faithfulness is
possible because forever exists”. To do God’s will, like Mary, is our highest
dignity as Christians.
If
you think that commitment is just a piece of paper, look at Mary. If you think
that faithfulness is just found in the dictionary, imitate Mary. If you think
that “forever” is true only in telenovelas,
then, stop watching telenovelas and
start praying to the Blessed Virgin. Ask her for the gift of faithfulness.
Let
us ask the help of our Lady of Assumption, that we may strive to be bearers of
Christ and to manifest Jesus in our lives. Like Mary, may we also learn to
listen to God’s will and follow it in our lives. Let us implore Mary’s
intercession, so that we, too, may experience our own “Assumption into heaven”
and discover that “talagang may forever”.
AMEN.
