Assumption Day 2013

“Do you know how to interpret the present time?”

Ancient people lived with certain insights into nature that modern people have abandoned.

One of these insights is the principle: “as above so below.”

The insight draws from observation of nature: the earth, the stars and planets, and indeed human behavior. The insight perceives the patterns. The knowledge of patterns produces an understanding of an overarching plan. That understanding produces the wisdom of the ancients in the word: logos.

The logos is the transcendent rational infinite and eternal pattern, plan, and purpose of all things in this realm of matter, energy, time and space. The testimony of a man named John is that the logos. The divine pattern, plan and purpose of the universe chose to become a human being.

How did John get such insight?

First: as a teen, John spent three years with Jesus. He did something no one else did. He paid attention. He wasn’t perfect. He could be a brat at times. But, unlike most of the people who met Jesus and heard him speak, John wanted to be Jesus’ friend. And, he wanted Jesus to be his friend.

John paid attention. He listened. And, he memorized the words Jesus spoke. As a teen, John soaked up the knowledge Jesus offered about God, humanity, the scriptures. But, he only had three years. He had the knowledge but lacked the understanding that comes from life experience.

Jesus himself provided John with two teachers to complete his education and spiritual formation. The first teacher is the Holy Spirit. The second is Holy Mother Mary.

Mary completed John’s education. She helped him use his knowledge to gain understanding of the logos and our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation.

Mary can do the same for us. From her throne in Heaven as Queen of Heaven Mary prays for us to grow in grace. Mary also pours the reflected grace of God into our souls as the sunlight pours through the stained glass windows of the church to reveal the outward and visible beauty of inward and spiritual holiness.

As above; so below. After Mary died, Jesus gave her the gift of immediate resurrection through the Assumption of her body into heaven. There, Jesus honored his mother by crowning her Queen of Heaven. She continues to manifest the infilling of grace that the archangel Gabriel announced at the incarnation. She continues to offer assistance to disciples of Jesus, us, to grow in knowledge, understanding, wisdom. Good counsel, piety, fortitude and reverence.

We honor Mary today on earth because Jesus himself honored Mary in Heaven. Jesus asks: do you know how to interpret the present time here and now? All we need to do is what John chose to do. Pay attention. Listen to the words of Jesus. Memorize them.

Assumption Day reminds us that Holy Mother Mary offers us assistance in interpreting the present from her throne in the eternal realm of heaven.