Dear parishioners and friends of Saint James, 

Today we celebrate The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary where the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, was raised body and soul to the glory of heaven. It is a coincidence that, just as with the Feast of Saint James, the Assumption occurs on a Sunday. However, unlike Saint James’ Day, the Assumption is not eclipsed by Sunday and is celebrated this Sunday throughout the Universal Church. 

It is a very ancient celebration dating back to at least the fifth century but wasn’t officially promulgated as a dogma until 1 November 1950 by Pope Pius XII. We celebrate that the Immaculate Conception, Mary the Mother of God did not have decay touch her body but was raised to heaven. 

In my practical way of looking at things, I have to ask myself how this is relevant to you and me. It is indeed wonderful that after her life given to God that as the one through whom God experienced a human life in a human body that she should be honored in this way. But this idea of ‘reward’ usually doesn’t sit well with me. Somehow it seems to lessen the impact of what we are celebrating, as it becomes something strictly for Mary and not important to you and me. 

Mary didn’t live her life as someone exalted, isolated and detached from normal human life. She had joys and sorrows like all people. Her experience though is made different from the vast majority of us because of the degree to which she surrendered herself to God. Her love for the Lord and her trust are to me both extraordinary and an inspiration for my own life. She was remarkably disposed to God and God’s will, even to the point of having been chosen by God before her birth to be the Mother of God’s Son. Is it not her disposition toward God, so total, so deep that entitled her to be taking up to the realm of God after her earthly life? We are not born of an Immaculate Conception but we are reborn after baptism to begin a life like Mary’s of surrender to God. 

I pray that all of us could be so willing to be loved by God according to His sovereign will and truly become the sons and daughters of God that He intends us to be. Mary’s “Yes” has made our own yes possible. What would your life be if you were to place God’s will for your life above all else? 

Pray for us oh holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Peace, Fr Bryan