Reflection on the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A reflection on the Solemnity (15 August 2020)
– by Fr Dang Le SSS

Few days ago, I came across a prayer of John Henry Newman entitled ‘The mission of my life.’ I would like to share with you part of that prayer.

“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.… If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain…”

What struck me is Newman’s attitude toward realities which we are now also experiencing. He embraces sickness, perplexity and sorrow, and in today’s situation, we can add fear, anxiety, etc.… and he uses them as instruments or means to serve God’s glory. Our attitude is different, we have been praying God to help us overcome this challenging time, we have been asking God’s healing and peace. The point here is not to compare or to say which one is right or wrong, but above all to show that, beside the way we used to look at and react to unexpected realities, Henry Newman’s prayer suggests us another way. And both ways complement each other.

It means that while the Covid-pandemic is still a mystery that we ceaselessly ponder, then we can ask God to help us to overcome this pandemic and at the same time to help us embrace its impacts in a way to serve and glorify God. And today’s celebration of the solemnity of the assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary can bring us comfort and strength to do so.

The privilege of not undergoing the corruption of her mortal body and now enjoying the heavenly glory was given to Mary not merely because she was the mother of Jesus but above all because she participated in Jesus’ suffering.

Today’s gospel shows us first steps of Mary after the annunciation, going to visit Elizabeth. She never knew that her next steps would be going to Egypt to escape Herod and finally leading her to Golgotha. Today, we hear her singing the joyful Magnificat, but she never imagined one day, her heart would filled with sorrow and tear when she saw her beloved Son die on the Cross. To all sufferings in her life, she embraced and pondered to know God’s will and so to contribute her part to bring God’s plan, which is salvation, to completion.

So, in this solemnity, we are reminded of Mary who constantly accepted all things in order to serve God’s purpose. We know that the power of human reason can not explain meaning and value of suffering, only the wisdom of the Cross. Mary did not try to explain but embrace it, ponder it and accept it. Her assumption proves that suffering, death and evil do not have last word on her life and ours.

Let us approach Mary to seek her accompaniment and maternal care for us to be able to get through this hard time.

 

Fr Dang Le SSS is from Viet Nam and is currently completing his Masters of Theology with the University of Divinity and is living with the Blessed Sacrament Congregation in Melbourne @ St Francis’.