Lifted up to God by God

We've somehow reached the mid-point of August, at the end of a week which contained an astonishing solar eclipse and the fifth heatwave of this summer. A week for seeking shade, rather than being adorned or clothed by the sun, as the first reading for today's feast of the Assumption, from the Book of Revelation, poetically describes Mary. But a week, too, for trying to coax my shy sunflower into that first, tentative unfurling and revelation of its full, sun-golden beauty. To my delight, having refused to open for the Transfiguration, and then ignoring St Clare - even though it's been nurtured, and well-clothed by the sun - this morning I finally... finally... found it with its first petals outstretched in a gentle festive greeting... 

A 'common' sunflower is as ordinary as it is sublime, and this was echoed for me this morning by two different reflections on the Assumption I read online.

Firstly, from the Clerk of Oxford, who shares some medieval texts, and also explains the narratives, images and traditions which arose around the birth, life and death of Mary, in which there was an emphasis on the ordinary and the everyday; on domestic scenes and the milestones of any woman's life. As the Clerk writes: Though Mary is unique and peerless, in these stories she is every medieval woman, not an unapproachably distant figure but a woman imagined in relationship to others: a daughter, wife, mother, friend. I love that she was also, according to the martyrology, the daughter-in-law of God! 

And all this resonated with the final words from this reflection by one of my friends at Turvey Abbey... 

What God has done in and through Mary, is God’s desire for each one of us. In celebrating the Assumption we celebrate redeemed humanity. Theologian John McQuarrie sees the Assumption as an on going event: ‘…whenever here on earth there is a gleam of true glory, a faithful act of discipleship, a prayer offered in faith, a hand stretched out in love, there is assumption, human life is being lifted up to God by God.’

Whenever there is love, prayer, fidelity... whenever the glory of God is radiated by a life lived fully in and for him... There, where God's desire is fulfilled, humanity is lifted up to God by God. Wow! 

And then, of course, the invitation not just to marvel at this thought, but to believe and make it real, as Mary did throughout her life...

What invitation does today's feast hold for you...?