Every year on August 15th we celebrate the Assumption of Mary.
There are three reasons God chose to bring her to Heaven in this unique manner.
The Assumption of Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church. We are all obliged to attend Mass and celebrate the day God brought Mary into Heaven. Understood from the Acts of the Apostles, Mary was with them when she fell into a deep sleep. However, her soul did not leave her body in death. Christ descended to the earth and brought Mary to Heaven with Him, body and soul.
Why is this so significant? Mary was sinless, completely perfect. She could have died a peaceful death in her sleep, gone to Heaven, and still been buried here on earth. As far as we know, there was nothing unpleasant about her situation. Yet Christ chose to assume her into Heaven body and soul. There are three reasons this happened.
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Death is a punishment for sin that Mary was not subject to.
In the beginning of time, man lived in perfect harmony with God. Sin was introduced when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Because of the separation caused by Original Sin, mankind needed to be perfected. First, we needed the infinite mercy and grace of our loving God. Second, we needed a perfect sacrifice of reparation for sin on behalf of all mankind. Both these things came to be from Christ’s incarnation and then crucifixion.
Third, we needed to pay the remaining debt of our personal sins to be perfected for the glory of Heaven. That is why our souls often go to purgatory before entering Heaven. At the end of time, not only will our bodies will be resurrected but those bodies will be reunited to our souls in Heaven in eternal glory.
Mary was sinless, thus she was not subject to this necessary separation of body and soul. She had no stain of sin that needed perfecting or cleansing. Mary had no further debt to pay. Death is a punishment, or even just a natural result, of sin. Untouched by sin, there was no reason for Mary’s body to separate from her soul. She is already glorified in her Immaculate Conception, and furthermore was able to enter Heaven without dying.
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The Ark of the New Covenant was not meant to be destroyed.
In chapters 11 and 12 of Revelation, John writes about his many visions God granted him of Heaven. John says the gates opened and he saw the Ark of the Covenant, and the woman clothed with the sun. Mary became the Ark of the New Covenant when she carried Jesus in her womb. It was fitting when she left this world that she, the Ark, not be destroyed. God treasures what carries His word. It should be noted that He did not even let the Ark of the Old Covenant, an object of man-made materials, be destroyed. He honored Mary by not letting her body suffer decay.
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Christ showed us the future we are all meant for.
When Christ assumed Mary into Heaven body and soul, He showed us what He intends to do for us all. At the end of time, our bodies will reunite with our souls, for eternal joy or eternal pain. What God has promised is not a myth. Undoubtedly, it will happen for us as it did for Mary.
God honors what carries His word.
As we go to Mass and celebrate the Assumption, we should remember that God honors what carries His word. We should leave Mass and go forth in union with the Lord. All of us should await and prepare for the glory of Heaven.
