The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 8-15-2021

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab.  Ps 45.  1 Cor 15:20-27.  Lk 1:39-46

Deacon Jim McFadden

            Today, we have the privilege of celebrating The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which falls on a Sunday.  Our first reading is taken from a very dramatic reading from the Book of Revelation in which we’re taken into the heavenly court—into God’s realm.  We can see the temple opened in which the Ark of the Covenant resides.   Now, for us moderns, we were re-introduced to the Ark of the Covenant with the Indiana Jones franchise.  But, to the first-century Jews who read this account, it would have a tremendous resonance.  By way of reminder, the Ark was a box which contained the remnants of the 10 Commandments.  It was the raison d’etre for the Temple, which housed the Ark of the Covenant. It was the object found in the Holy of Holies.  It bore the divine presence to Israel.  The Ark was a close as one could get to God here on earth, which is why the Temple in Jerusalem was the epicenter of Jewish worship.

             In the revelation contained in our first reading, the Ark is in its proper place.  It’s now in the heavenly temple; but here is the difference: it’s associated with a woman who is about to give birth.  We hear, “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.  She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth” (Rv 12:1-2).  That image is associated with that of the Ark.  How so? 

The Church saw Mary as the new and definitive Ark of the Covenant, which was articulated in the Litany of Loreto in the late 15^th century.  You see, Mary just didn’t carry with her the remnants of the 10 Commandments, but the very incarnate presence of God. 

            Now, it should be kept in mind that before the Temple was built, the Ark was carried into battle by the Israelites as they waged war against their enemies believing that God was on their side.  So, what the new and old Ark have in common is the notion of battle.    As she is about to give birth, the woman is confronted by a dragon.  We hear, “Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.  Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth.    Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth” (vs. 3-4).  This is not a sentimental image of the birth of Christ, but a very hard-edged drama that is unfolding.  Here is a woman, associated with the Ark who is the bearer of the divine presence, but at the very moment she is about to give birth, she is confronted by a terrible enemy who wants to kill her child. 

            What does the ‘dragon’ stand for?  Some opined that it may stand for the Rome—the seven heads and diadems are evocative of the seven hills of Rome. Today, we can take it to mean any forms of worldly power that are predicated upon violence and oppression intended to thwart God’s purposes

            As formidable this dragon is, it is powerless against the woman and Child.  We hear, “She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.  Her child was caught up to God and his throne” (v. 5).  This Mother and her Child are more powerful than all the world’s armies combined, all of its political might.  What’s the point?  The Ark of the Covenant—Mary, the true Ark—is still effective in battle as it was in ancient Israel.

            With all those images, let us turn to the gospel, which contains the Visitation.  This story does not take place in the heavenly court, but in the hill country to a town of Judah, somewhere south of Jerusalem.  A young woman from Nazareth greets her cousin Elizabeth.  When she heard Mary’s greeting, the infant in her womb leapt  and “Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “’Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Lk 1:41b-42).

            What is Elizabeth acknowledging?  That the Ark of the Covenant has entered her house and has blessed it.  The nice detail of John the Baptist leaping in joy in his mother’s womb is reminiscent of David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant as he enters Jerusalem.  David, the warrior, is now bringing the Ark into the holy city as he dances before it.  Here is John the Baptist, a new David figure, dancing before the Ark.

            Now, listen how Mary responds in what has become known as The Canticle of Mary (or, Magnificat) in which she marshals very strong images.  Mary says that “He (God) has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.  The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty”

 (v. 51-53). 

            What does Mary know?  She knows that the Child she is bearing will confront the powers of the world.  He will confront those who set themselves up with narcistic pride, those who sit upon high thrones and look down upon the humble.  She knows that He will lift up the lowly and will feed those who have been exploited.  Whether it is the power of Rome, or fallen Israel, or any contemporary oppressive power, this Child will defeat them.

            Do you see what Mary is announcing is this remarkable Magnificat?  The Blessed Virgin Mary is proclaiming that she is the true Ark of the Covenant, which will successfully be brought into battle against the forces of evil, injustice, and oppression.  What she is speaking are fighting words.

            One may ask, what has all of this have to do with our Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary?  Go back to the first reading: the Assumption is Mary’s full transfiguration into the realm of God.  Her elevation, body and soul, into Heaven means that she now reigns as Queen in which she can exercise power within the Church to carry on her Son’s redemptive work.  As the Mother of God, as the Mother of the Church, and the First Disciple, Mary shows us how to take on worldly powers.   We do so not on their terms; we don’t fight fire with fire.   No, we overwhelm them with the power of the Spirit which eventually will reign supreme.  

            That’s why Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption that recognizes Mary’s full and complete transfiguration into Heaven, body and soul,  and, it is for that reason, we, too are emboldened to carry  on the  battle knowing what the eventual outcome is.  Amen.