The Humble Handmaid: Marys Assumption and Her Role as Mother of the Church
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." These words from today's Gospel reveal the heart of the woman we honor today. On this Solemnity of the Assumption, we celebrate that Mary, who bore Christ in her womb, was at the end of her earthly life taken body and soul into heavenly glory. Yet notice how Mary begins her Magnificat—not by drawing attention to herself, but by pointing to God. Even in her moment of being recognized as blessed among women, Mary redirects our gaze to the Lord. This is the essence of Mary that I wish to share with you today: her profound humility and her motherly care for all of us who follow her Son.
Are we giving Mary too much attention?
I recognize that for many of us who have come to the Catholic faith from Protestant traditions, devotion to Mary can feel unfamiliar or even concerning. You might wonder: Are we giving Mary too much attention? Are we taking away from Christ's unique role as mediator? These are valid questions that deserve honest reflection. Scripture tells us to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The Church's understanding of Mary has been tested through centuries of prayer, study, and reflection on Scripture. What we celebrate today in the Assumption isn't about elevating Mary above Christ, but recognizing what Christ has done for his mother—and what he promises to all who follow him. As St. Paul reminds us in today's second reading, "Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Mary's Assumption is the first fruit of Christ's promise of resurrection for all believers. Her bodily assumption reminds us that our salvation involves not just our souls but our bodies too—the whole person God created.
What strikes me most about Mary is her radical humility. In today's Gospel, she says, "He has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness." The Greek word for "lowliness" here—tapeinosis—means a state of being humble, lowly, or insignificant. Mary acknowledges her smallness before God. And yet, it is precisely in her recognition of her dependence on God that she becomes great. As she prophesies, "He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly." Mary's life embodied this paradox: the lower she bowed in service to God, the higher God raised her in glory. This is why the Church sees in her Assumption not just a special privilege, but the fulfillment of Christ's promise that "whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). Mary's humility challenges our culture's obsession with self-promotion and status. She shows us that true greatness comes not from asserting ourselves, but from making space for God to work through us. When we struggle with pride or self-importance, we can look to Mary who, despite being chosen for the highest honor imaginable, described herself simply as the Lord's handmaid.
Mary's role extends beyond being the mother of Jesus in the flesh.
At the foot of the cross, Jesus gave his mother to the beloved disciple—and symbolically to all disciples—when he said, "Behold, your mother" (John 19:27). This moment established Mary's spiritual motherhood for the Church. In our first reading from Revelation, we see the woman clothed with the sun who "gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod." While this image has multiple layers of meaning, the Church has long seen here a reference to both Mary and the Church herself. Mary's motherhood and the Church's motherhood are interconnected. Just as Mary nurtured the physical body of Christ, she now nurtures his mystical body—the Church. This is not about replacing Christ as our mediator. Rather, Mary shows us how to bring Christ to others. After the Annunciation, Mary's first action was to visit Elizabeth and bring Christ—physically present within her—to her cousin. Elizabeth's response is telling: "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Elizabeth recognizes both Mary's motherhood and the Lord's presence that Mary brings. This is Mary's continuing role—not to replace Jesus, but to bring Jesus to us, just as any good mother wants to share the best she has with her children.
The Assumption of Mary gives us hope.
In Mary's bodily assumption into heaven, we see the destiny that awaits all who follow Christ faithfully. As St. Paul tells us today, "in Christ shall all be brought to life." Mary's assumption is not a separation from humanity but a sign of what awaits us. She has gone before us as a witness to the resurrection Christ promises. When we honor Mary, we ultimately honor the God who did such great things for her—and who promises great things for us as well. As we live out our daily lives, let us ask for Mary's intercession, that we might imitate her humility and openness to God's will. And let us receive her maternal care with gratitude, knowing that her greatest desire is to lead us closer to her Son. In Mary's words, may our souls too proclaim the greatness of the Lord, and may our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.- F.D.