I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.
Ephesians 1:18
Maybe you’re old enough to remember the twangy, raspy, guttural voice of Bruce Springsteen singing, Glory Days. If you’re not let me help you:
Does this seem like a strange start to a reflection meant to be a tribute to our Blessed Mother on the Feast of Assumption? Well…maybe, but maybe not. I promise you we’ll get back to Bruce Springsteen and Glory Days in a moment.
Catholics, for sound theological reasons, believe that when Mary died, she was assumed into heaven. Mary is immediately gifted the “blessed vision.” She comes into the full presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Her happiness and joy are complete.
Consider: Mary was born without original sin to be a pure earthen vessel for the incarnation of God’s Son.
The human and divine necessity of Mary’s motherly intimacy with Jesus grants her Communion in the Blood of Christ. She is the first human to be given the gift of the resurrection of the body. Jesus’ resurrection is human and divine. Mary’s resurrection is human. She is freed from death. Jesus lived in her, lived with her, and now eternally dwells in her. This is what He wants to do for us.
Mary assumes her eternal role in the Kingdom of God. This is the foundation of our faith and our inheritance. Without the resurrection of the body, we have nothing.
Jesus Christ conquers sin and death, yet we know He and the Father, through the Holy Spirit’s bond of Love, are One. It’s no surprise that through the power of Jesus Christ’s Perfect, Unconditional, Sacrificial, Love that He vanquishes evil. He goes further. Jesus Christ shows us our physical and spiritual future reality of being married to His Mystical Body. Jesus longs for this. It’s how He gives Glory to the Father:
Are you tracking me? This Glorious God of ours can’t wait to show us what He has in store for us. God works, through His agency in Mary, to build an evidential eschatological bridge between Final Judgment and our present, lumbering, temporal movement through salvation history.
Christ’s Glory working in us, raises us to become an integral part of His co-creative eternal expression of His Love for the Father.
Mary shows us the way. Her embodied prayers and tears for us, lived through her human resurrected body, give Glory to God. Mary is our Mother. If we seek Mary’s protective mantle her help will always be wrapped around us.
Let her lead you straight into the Heart of Jesus because Her soul doth give Glory to God.
“Pray for us dear Mother that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
Ave Maria, we seek the refuge of your immaculate heart. Mother with us, and for us, we are in great need of your prayers now, and at the hour of our death. Salve Regina, untie the knots of our lives. Untangle the twists blocking the flow of our love and devotion to your Son and our Lord. Hail Holy Queen, crush the evil and perversions of truth that seek our ruin. Wrap us in the mantle of your blessings and fill our hearts with your imperishable hope. Blessed Mother, we flee to your tender embrace. Thank you for adopting each and every one of us as precious gifts for your Son. May we imitate your great, “Yes” to God. Pray that we might be emptied of every form of pride. Ask your Son to bestow upon us the graces of humility and obedience. Mother of Mercy, draw us into the mysteries of His Holy Will. Comfort us in our battles and accept our tears in communion with your sorrows. Guide us to the Gates of Heaven. Beg your Son to establish His kingdom of peace. We await the renewal of the earth and our inheritance of endless Joy and Love. AMEN
