Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Revelation 19a.12:1-6a.10ab; I Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke
1:39-56)
Fr. Raymond E. Brown was a preeminent biblical scholar of the
latter twentieth century. Protestants
scholars recognized his expertise by awarding him a professorship at one of
their leading national seminaries.
Different popes named him to the Pontifical Biblical Commission. One of Fr. Brown’s hallmarks was Christian
unity. He told Protestants that they
should not worry about Marian claims made by Catholic popes. He noted their Scriptural basis if not directly
at least implicitly.
Today’s feast gives evidence of such a basis. There is no direct statement about Mary in
Scripture after her being in the company of the apostles at the Pentecost
event. No report is given of her
passing, much less of her assumption into heaven. But there is indirect testimony. The first reading refers to her being
prepared a place by God. The second reading
speaks of the resurrection of all the dead of whom conceivably Mary takes precedence.
The gospel reading indicates why. Mary
is the first to proclaim the Good News of God doing great, new things in the
world.
Protestant friends may still be wary of claiming much about
Mary. We should be conscious of that
but, nevertheless, ready to invite them to our Marian celebrations. Mary is, after all, a model disciple as well
as a preacher of the Gospel. As his
mother, she is also close to Jesus.
Finally, she has a distinctively woman’s sensitivity to others’
needs. Much like people ask us to pray
for their needs, we can solicit Mary’s intercession. In this way, she may serve as a source of
unity and never again of division.
