Homily 504 | Assumption of Mary | Year B
One of the greatest mysteries of the Christian story is that the creator of everything chose, at a specific moment in time, to enter his own creation. There are many ways God could has done this, but he chose to do so by coming as a little baby, conceived in the womb of a virgin.
God chose Mary to be the vessel through whom he took on flesh and entered this world. He, of course, prepared Mary for this great mission. In fact, he perfectly prepared her from the moment of her conception by preserving her from original sin. It is only fitting therefore that he also preserved her from even the natural consequences of death. At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven.
The offertory antiphon for the Vigil of the Assumption has a beautiful sort of theological poetry summarizing the amazing things God did in Mary:
Beata es, Virgo María, quae omnium portasti Creatorem: genuisti qui te fecit, et in aeternum permanes virgo.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who bore the Creator of all things: you gave birth to him who made you, and forever remain a virgin.
We can only allow the mind to bow humbly before the singular mysteries contained in the above verse. However, in acknowledging the the incredible plan God brought to completion in Mary, we should do as Mary did and give glory to God. All of the good done in Mary really magnifies the Lord; Mary draws attention to God, not herself. Our lives should do the same.