Reflection - Glory

By Steve Hall

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081520-day.cfm
Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
Luke 1:39-56

So, what do we get by being faithful followers of Christ? Paul tells us that at least one consequence is the ‘reward’ of eternal life — we get to rise from the dead. Some people worry about this. Will I rise from the dead as old or young, as plain or pretty, as fat or fit, as athletic or inept, etc.? As Christians we know that Jesus rose from the dead. When the disciples saw him he was an adult man. They weren’t put off by his appearance, though they were probably a bit disconcerted. Possibly the most striking thing we know from the Gospel accounts is related to his coming and going — he would be there and then . . . not be there. It would also seem that, for whatever reason, he was not always immediately recognizable. Consider Mary Magdalen’s first encounter with him in the garden outside the tomb. At first she thought he was the gardener. Or recall the two disciples as they walked to Emmaus. They did not recognize him until the breaking of bread at the end of the journey. Maybe that was Jesus’ choice; or maybe his presence was just too unexpected.

Although the Scriptures do not specifically state that, upon her death, Mary was immediately taken up into heaven, it certainly was not in serious dispute within the early Church. St. John of Damascus spoke to the tradition of the Church of Jerusalem:

St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened upon the request of St Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven.

Jesus rose from the dead because he overcame or conquered death; but the victory, in itself, was not the reason the Son of God became man. Why bother if this triumph had no consequences beyond proving he could do it. No, time and again we are assured that the Resurrection was a promise of what was to be for us. In Christ, we too could overcome death. Thus it is that Paul reminds us that:

“Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.”

But Paul goes on to say:

“in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order.”

Now I hear from time to time of certain athletes who, within a short time after being selected to join a professional team, buy their mother a house. Not much of a surprise that they should do that. With what it took to achieve that athletic victory, securing one’s mother in a comfortable place demonstrates genuine gratitude for the one who contributed so much to making it possible.

John tells us that, once, in trying to reassure the disciples about his impending departure, Jesus said to them:

“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 1:2)

What could be more exemplary of the “proper order” than to have one’s mother be the first to “be brought to life” and the first to enter into the room prepared for her. The first to directly benefit from her Son’s victory.

Moreover, in the multiple apparitions of Mary throughout the ages, her appearances are reminiscent of those of Jesus Himself. She would be there and then . . . not be there. It would also seem that, for whatever reason, she has not always immediately recognizable. She had to identify herself to Bernadette at Lourdes, saying “I am the Immaculate Conception.” To the three children at Fatima she identified herself as Our Lady of the Rosary. Frequently she has been referred to as “the beautiful lady”.

The teaching of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is as old as Christianity. It holds that Mary was taken into heaven body and soul. But subsequent appearances also affirm that she now has a glorified body, for she, like her Son, appears and disappears at will. She, like her Son, is often initially unrecognizable. She, like her Son, shimmers in light when seen. She, like her Son, radiants Love and Compassion.

If the Resurrected Jesus is “the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep,” then Mary, the Mother of God, is the prototype for what is promised to us all. So the next time you worry about the body you will have on the day of Resurrection, remember Mary who has appeared throughout the ages in the glory of a resurrected body.