Along with the universal church, Catholics in the diocese should reflect on Mary as the model disciple and queen of heaven and earth, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said in his homily during a noon Mass for the Assumption of Mary at a mostly full Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Aug. 15.
“Once when visiting a grade school, I asked the students, ‘What is the Assumption?’ One answered, ‘Is that when we assume that Mary is in heaven?’ ” he said to laughter from the congregation. “I gave them partial credit for the answer.”
The holy day of obligation commemorating the Blessed Virgin’s Assumption into heaven, body and soul, at the conclusion of her earthly life, officially adopted as a Catholic teaching 75 years ago by Pope Pius XII, is an opportunity to step back from busy routines and remember that every life is a fleeting pilgrimage, Bishop Burbidge said, and that we are called to life beyond the grave with God in heaven.
“Thus, daily, we cannot merely assume that we will get to heaven,” he said. “We must daily cooperate with the Lord’s graces and allow Mary to show us the way. Like her, we must be convinced that God has chosen us as his disciples and that he has a unique plan for each one of us that requires us each day to echo Mary’s ‘yes,’ even when it seems what God is asking us is impossible.”
Following Mary’s example, he said, of reflecting on what God has done for us and his greatness can insulate us from grumbling and complaining.
“May we go forth today, continue our earthly journey, but always with our eyes fixed on what is above, so that one day we may live with God forever,” Bishop Burbidge said. “Mary, queen of heaven and earth, pray for us this day and always.”
