In the Gospel for the vigil of today’s feast, a woman from the crowd gives a shout out to Jesus’ mother; because mothers surely deserve some acknowledgment for the virtue of their children! And Jesus says that actually, those who hear and observe the word of God should be praised. At first, Jesus’ words may seem dismissive of His mother, as if He is saying that she is not blessed. But we can hear His words as, “Yes, because she heard the word of God and observed it perfectly. And so, blessed are all those who do the same!”
Mary is certainly privileged in many ways, but her true beauty and virtue is that she received all that came from God and every thought, word, action, and desire of hers was in alignment with His will. Today, as we celebrate one of the Marian dogmas of the Church, her Assumption into Heaven, we praise the true blessedness of the Mother of God. Blessed is she who heard the word of God, received it, assented to it, observed it, and never drew back, through all the vicissitudes and confusions and heartache and uncertainty and sorrow that she faced in this life! She remained faithful to her fiat at the Annunciation through the misunderstandings of Joseph and her neighbors, through the threats of the Pharisees against her son, through the lack of understanding of the disciples and the crowds who followed Jesus, all the way to the Cross and beyond. She never wavered.
Throughout her life, we see the strength that she draws from her deep faith and unwavering hope. Even at the Cross, she stood. She did not look away from the worst cruelty and the deepest heartache of a mother we can imagine. She stood, suffering FOR her son, and WITH her son, offering Him and herself to the Father. Co-suffering. Co-redeeming.
“She conceived, brought forth and nourished Christ. She presented Him to the Father in the temple, and was united with Him by compassion as He died on the Cross. In this singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Saviour in giving back supernatural life to souls. Wherefore she is our mother in the order of grace.
This maternity of Mary in the order of grace began with the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, and lasts until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this salvific duty, but by her constant intercession continued to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation.” (Lumen Gentium, # 61, 62)
Let’s ponder these words from Vatican II today and remember that when her life on earth was finished, her body was not left in a tomb to decay. Rather, she was lifted body and soul into Heavenly glory, to continue her motherhood of the whole Body of Christ! Mary, our Mother, pray for us!
En el Evangelio para la vigilia de la fiesta de hoy, una mujer de la multitud da un grito a la madre de Jesús; porque las madres seguramente merecen algún reconocimiento por la virtud de sus hijos. Y Jesús dice que en realidad, los que escuchan y observan la palabra de Dios deben ser alabados. Al principio, las palabras de Jesús pueden parecer desdeñosas hacia su madre, como si estuviera diciendo que ella no es bendecida. Pero podemos escuchar sus palabras como, “Sí, porque ella escuchó la palabra de Dios y la observó perfectamente. Y así, ¡benditos sean todos aquellos que hacen lo mismo!”
María ciertamente es privilegiada en muchos sentidos, pero su verdadera belleza y virtud es que ella recibió todo lo que vino de Dios y cada pensamiento, palabra, acción y deseo de ella estuvo alineado con Su voluntad. Hoy, al celebrar uno de los dogmas marianos de la Iglesia, su Asunción al Cielo, alabamos la verdadera bienaventuranza de la Madre de Dios. ¡Bendita la que escuchó la palabra de Dios, la recibió, la asintió, la observó y nunca miró para atrás, a pesar de todas las vicisitudes y confusiones y angustias e incertidumbres y dolores que enfrentó en esta vida! Permaneció fiel a su fiat en la Anunciación a través de las incomprensiones de José y sus vecinos, a través de las amenazas de los fariseos contra su hijo, a través de la incomprensión de los discípulos y de la multitud que seguía a Jesús, hasta la Cruz y más allá. Ella nunca vaciló.
A lo largo de su vida, vemos la fuerza que saca de su fe profunda y su esperanza inquebrantable. Incluso en la Cruz, ella se puso de pie. No apartó la mirada de la peor crueldad y el más profundo dolor de madre que podamos imaginar. Ella se paró, sufriendo POR su hijo, y CON su hijo, ofreciéndo él y ella misma al Padre. Co-sufrimiento. Co-redimir.
“Concibiendo a Cristo, engendrándolo, alimentándolo, presentándolo al Padre en el templo, padeciendo con su Hijo cuando moría en la cruz, cooperó en forma enteramente impar a la obra del Salvador con la obediencia, la fe, la esperanza y la ardiente caridad con el fin de restaurar la vida sobrenatural de las almas. Por eso es nuestra madre en el orden de la gracia.
Esta maternidad de María en la economía de gracia perdura sin cesar desde el momento del asentimiento que prestó fielmente en la Anunciación, y que mantuvo sin vacilar al pie de la cruz hasta la consumación perpetua de todos los elegidos. Pues, asunta a los cielos, no ha dejado esta misión salvadora, sino que con su múltiple intercesión continúa obteniéndonos los dones de la salvación eterna.” (Lumen Gentium, # 61, 62)
Meditemos hoy en estas palabras del Concilio Vaticano II y recordemos que cuando terminó su vida en la tierra, su cuerpo no fue dejado en una tumba para que se descompusiera. ¡Más bien, ella fue elevada en cuerpo y alma a la gloria celestial, para continuar su maternidad de todo el Cuerpo de Cristo! María, Madre nuestra, ¡ruega por nosotros!
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Adriaen van der Werff, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/assumption-day-19129/
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