Assumption Thursday: Chilling Out because the Battle is God’s
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56
Are you battle ready? The Assumption of Mary celebrates a superlative exploit compared to the proverbial cat with nine lives. In the case of Mary, Jesus, and the attack of the dragon-devil, it is a battle array that has God at the forefront. With God in the battle front, victory is guaranteed. Alleluia!
To encourage us to be battle ready, God has a track record of victories over the Devil! Do you want to know about God’s battle victories? Just ask Moses when he had the Egyptian army at his tail. The Shekinah of God came between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The debris at the Sea of Reeds tells the rest of the story of God’s victory at war! Ask Joshua about the walls of Jericho where flutes and pipes bellowing out God’s praises crumbled the defensive walls of Jericho! Ask Elijah surrounded by 450 prophets of Ba’al (1 Kings 19) and the fire he caused to rain down from heaven for the victory of Yehweh and his triumph over human gods!
You know what? You must be God’s nominated/appointee for him to fight your battles for you. Before you engage the devil and sin and be victorious like Mary, you must have heard God calling out to you, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you”, for God to fight your battles for you! You definitely remember where that comes from – “the Lord is with you” (Judges 6:12); that was what Gideon heard from the angel in the Book of Judges before he led the war of victory against the Midianites. God’s track record of fighting for those he is with – “the Lord is with you” – is rock solid. Mary heard it and gave her consent – “Let it be done to me according to your words.” Yes, when the “Lord is with you,” victory is yours! Indeed, Jesus heard it at the river Jordan, and it was repeated at Mount Tabor’s Transfiguration – “you are my Son, the beloved and chosen.” Could anyone arise against God’s chosen one and not be crushed?
The dragon-devil chose a wrong battle opponent: not one, but two in one – child-Jesus and Woman-Mary! What a crushing defeat and sweet victory!
With the defeat of the dragon-devil, the child was taken to the throne of God, and the Woman-Mary was led to a place reserved and ordained for her by God! Indeed, beyond the resounding overthrow of the dragon-devil, the Assumption of Mary celebrates her enthronement in the special place God predestined and prepared for her.
Assumption Thursday is about “heaven is our home,” a special place God has prepared for all those he has called to holiness and immaculateness as they live their lives upon earth in preparation for heaven.
In case you’re not aware, know it now – you’re predestined for heaven. Like Jesus and Mary, you’re beloved of God and chosen for victory over the wiles of the dragon-devil so that you can be assumed like Mary to your reserved place in heaven.
Let one motivation nudge you on in your battle against sin and evil – you’re predestined for victory! Let one thought remain with you today and always – you’re made for heaven, heaven is your home! Let one certainty occupy your mind – “the Lord is with you also”!
Like Mary, we need to go with haste, not to the house of Elizabeth, but to our neighbors to announce to them the victory of God over the dragon-devil as a prelude to our own victory over sin and death. Like Mary’s magnifcat, let us burst into songs of thanksgiving to God for the victories we already achieved through the sacrament of Confession, where our sins get wiped out and the dragon-devil put to shame!
Here and now, let us live like resurrected children of God with no fear of death and dying because Jesus Christ has conquered death through his own resurrection from the dead. Let us join hands to fight evil and sin in order to be assumed into heaven in our turn!
Life is a battle for the triumph of goodness – join the battle and fight the fight with God on your side!
Happy Feast Day!