In the liturgical celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church invites us to reflect on the profound mysteries of Mary’s role in salvation history. The readings from Judith and Luke offer us a glimpse into Mary’s unique place in God’s plan and her exaltation as the Queen of Heaven.
Judith 13:22-25; 15:10: A Prefiguration of Mary
The passages from the Book of Judith recount the praise given to Judith after she delivered Israel from the hands of Holofernes. Uzziah, the leader of Israel, proclaims, “You are the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel, the honor of our people” (Judith 15:10). Judith’s courage and faith in God not only save her people but also earn her a place of honor among them.
The Church Fathers saw Judith as a prefiguration of Mary. Just as Judith’s faith and obedience led to the deliverance of Israel, Mary’s faith and obedience brought forth the Savior, Jesus Christ, who would deliver humanity from sin and death. St. Ambrose, in his commentary on the virtues of Mary, notes that Judith’s actions foreshadow Mary’s role as the new Eve, whose “yes” to God brought about the redemption of mankind. Mary, like Judith, is hailed as the glory of her people, but her glory surpasses that of Judith, for Mary bore the Son of God in her womb.
Luke 1:41-50: The Magnificat of Mary
In the Gospel of Luke, we hear Mary’s Magnificat, her song of praise to God, which she proclaims during her visit to Elizabeth. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:46-48). This passage echoes the praise given to Judith, but it is now fulfilled in a more profound way in Mary.
St. Augustine, in his reflections on the Magnificat, emphasizes Mary’s humility and her recognition that all her blessings come from God. Mary’s greatness lies not in her own merits but in her complete openness to God’s will. She is blessed among women not only because she bore Christ but because she believed in God’s promises. As St. Augustine writes, “Mary is more blessed in receiving the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ.” Her song is a testament to God’s faithfulness, mercy, and power to exalt the lowly.
The Assumption: The Fulfillment of Mary’s Blessedness
The Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul, is the culmination of her blessedness. The Church teaches that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken up into heaven, where she now reigns as Queen of Heaven and Earth. This dogma, proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1950, is rooted in the Church’s understanding of Mary’s unique role in salvation history and her intimate union with her Son, Jesus Christ.
The Church Fathers, such as St. John Damascene, spoke of the Assumption as a fitting consequence of Mary’s Immaculate Conception and her role as the Mother of God. St. John Damascene writes, “It was necessary that she who had kept her virginity in childbirth should keep her own body free from all corruption even after death. It was necessary that she who had carried the Creator as a child on her bosom should dwell in the divine tabernacles.”
Conclusion
In reflecting on these scriptural passages within the context of the Assumption, we are invited to meditate on the profound mystery of Mary’s participation in God’s plan of salvation. Like Judith, Mary is honored as the glory of her people, but in a far greater way, as the Mother of God. Her Magnificat reminds us of God’s power to exalt the humble and fill the hungry with good things. In her Assumption, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise to Mary, who, because of her unique role and her faithful “yes,” was taken up into heaven and crowned as Queen.
As we celebrate the Assumption, may we, like Mary, magnify the Lord in our lives, trusting in His promises and rejoicing in His mercy. Let us also seek her intercession, that we may one day share in the glory of her Son in the eternal Kingdom.