While we are used to thinking of Mary as enjoying exceptional privileges as a human being, on this day what happened to her, being in God’s presence as a whole human being, prefigures our future as well. So this is a feast which looks backwards to the grace Mary enjoyed, but also forward to our own future in God’s presence. We too, we believe, will stand before God with all the saints, fully present to God. Even if we cannot really picture such a future, we believe nevertheless in a God who loves all that we are, our bodies, our relationships, our history, our engagement in the real world.

Prayer

Today, creator and redeemer God, we rejoice! We look forward to our sharing in those gifts in the world to come, when we will stand in your presence with all the saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

K O’Mahony OSA