Today the Church is radiant with joy. We celebrate the great solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—her being taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory. This is not a pious fairy tale or simply a “reward” for Mary’s goodness. It is a truth of faith, rooted in Scripture, nourished in the Tradition of the Church, and proclaimed solemnly as dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

The Assumption tells us something essential: God does not abandon His faithful ones to the corruption of the grave. Mary is the first to share in the fullness of her Son’s resurrection. Where she has gone, we hope to follow.

1. Mary as the First Disciple and the Perfect Believer

In the Gospel today, we see Mary rushing to serve Elizabeth. She has just received the astonishing message of the angel, yet her first instinct is to go out and bring Christ to others. This is Mary’s life in a nutshell—receiving Jesus and bringing Him to the world.

Her Assumption is the completion of that journey. She who bore the Son of God, who stood by the Cross, who persevered in faith when all seemed lost—she is now crowned with glory. As the Book of Revelation describes, “A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.”

2. The Assumption Is About Us Too

The Second Reading reminds us: “In Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order.” Christ is the firstfruits; Mary follows closely after Him; and then we, in God’s time, will share in that same victory over death.

Mary’s Assumption is not just her privilege—it’s our hope. In her, we see what God intends for each of His faithful children: to be with Him forever, body and soul, in the glory of heaven. In a world obsessed with beauty that fades, success that vanishes, and possessions we cannot take with us, Mary reminds us what truly lasts—holiness, humility, love for God.

3. The Assumption Calls Us to Live Heaven-Oriented Lives

The Assumption is not a passive message—“Don’t worry, you’ll get to heaven eventually.” It’s an urgent call to live now in the way we want to live forever.

• Mary’s heart was pure—ours can be cleansed by God’s mercy.

• Mary’s eyes were fixed on God—ours can be trained to see His hand in all things.

• Mary’s life was a “yes” to God—ours can be shaped by that same surrender.

The more we live like Mary, the more heaven will already begin in our hearts.

4. Bringing the Message Home

In times of fear, loss, or sickness, the Assumption tells us: death is not the end. The grave is not our final home. And when we look to Mary, we see not a distant queen but a mother—our mother—waiting for us, praying for us, and cheering us on in our journey to Christ.

The Assumption is also a reminder for our families: just as Mary carried Christ into Elizabeth’s home, we too are called to bring Christ into our homes, our conversations, and our daily lives.

Conclusion

As we celebrate this solemn feast, let us renew our trust in God’s promises. Let us ask Mary, assumed into heaven, to guide our steps so that one day we too may hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.”

May her Assumption be for us not only a mystery to admire, but a path to follow—a path of faith, humility, and total surrender to God.