Father Thomas Welbers' Homily	Jump back to Homily Index
Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, August 15, 2003 Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 1:39-56	Listen to Audio

“Blessed are you among women.” We join with Elizabeth in praising Mary. And Mary responds in her song, “From this day all generations will call me blessed.”

And we, today, continue to call her blessed, just as she foretold.

Why? It’s not what she has done; it’s what God has done. On the other hand, it is what she has done. She said yes to what God wanted to do in her and through her.

Elizabeth declares Mary blessed because she believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord’s messenger would be fulfilled.

And Mary, now as then, puts flesh and blood on those promises. As the Almighty has done great things for her, he will continue to show the strength of his arm and scatter the proud in their conceit. He will continue to cast down the mighty from their thrones, and lift up the lowly. He will continue to fill the hungry with good things and send the rich away empty.

When Mary first spoke these words, she had only the promise and the seed of its fulfillment in her womb. We look at the world around us, we even look within ourselves, and we see that the fulfillment of her confident hope still is not complete.

Perhaps it’s not complete because God is still awaiting our yes.

That’s why this feast is ours as well. Mary’s Assumption stands as a beacon of hope to us, that our yes to God will allow God to fulfill his promises, just as Mary’s yes brought forth our Savior.

© Thomas Welbers 2003