Woman Clothed with the Sun
The Assumption of Mary
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56
Today, the first reading presents us with two signs. In the first one, we see “a woman clothed with the sun”, the second one shows us “a huge red dragon”. The signs begin the second part of the book of Revelation (12-22) describing the Church’s persecutions throughout history until the final victory in the new Jerusalem. The Woman symbolises both the Mother of the Messiah and the Church "which in all ages, with great suffering, brings forth Christ ever anew” (Pope Benedict XVI). Who is the dragon? “That ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9).
In the book of Genesis, right after Adam and Eve committed the first sin, God declared the end of Satan saying: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring” (Gen 3:15). Mary is that woman and Jesus, her son is that offspring. Eve listened to the voice of a fallen angel and gave birth to sin. Mary, the new Eve listened to the voice of God’s angel and gave birth to the Redeemer of the world. The old Eve trusted the words of Satan, Mary trusted the word of God. Eve was disobedient and Mary was obedient. Mary’s answer, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), brought about the dawn of our salvation.
But before the sign of the woman, the first reading mentions the "Ark of the Covenant" (Rev 11:19). Is there a relation between them? Yes, there is. The ark contained the manna, Aaron's staff, and the tablets of the covenant (Heb 9:4). Mary entering the home of Elizabeth carried in her womb, the true bread that came from heaven (John 6:32-33), the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:1-3), and the Word of God that gave us the new commandment of love (John 1:1; 13:34). The ark was made of “wood incorruptible” (Ex 25:10-11 LXX), and Mary is also "incorruptible", because she was conceived without any stain of sin.
“And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). David ask a similar question in regards to the ark of the covenant: “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9). And as Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months, so the ark of the covenant remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months “and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household” (2 Sam 6:11). By bringing Jesus to Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, Mary brought abundant joy and blessing to that family. She is the ‘Ark of the New Covenant’.
Jesus Christ is the first fruit “of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20), and his mother is the next one. “The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory” (Pope Pius XII). The Queen Mother stands at the right hand of her Son, Jesus Christ (Ps 45:10), and sings in honor of the Lord: “he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). He has chosen the humble handmaid of the Lord for the Mother of His Son. Will all generations from now on call her blessed (Luke 1:48)?
Before the liturgical reform that took place after the Vatican II, the Church sang a beautiful antiphon on the feasts of Mary: “Rejoice, Virgin Mary, you alone have destroyed all the heresies of the entire world”. The offspring of the woman has indeed crushed the head of the dragon. The Assumption of Mary is the triumph of Christ’s redeeming love. The Mother of our Lord stands as the beginning and image of the Church on the way to perfection. Celebrating the assumption of Mary with her body and soul into heaven, we have the foretaste of our future. Where Mary is, we all hope to be. The assumption of Mary is the destiny of us all: to share, with body and soul, the life and the glory of God. Amen.