The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the summit of God's favour to Mary; one who submitted her total self to God's will in her life.

St. Maximilian Kolbe had such love for Mother Mary that for him his mission was accomplished on the feast of the Assumption of Mary. It was when he volunteered to take the place of a prisoner condemned to starvation and he was put to death by the Nazis with a lethal injection. His devotion to Mary gave him the strength and courage to do this.

The Magnificat in today's Gospel is said to be a canticle that reflects the thoughts of the anawin which means 'poor, humble, afflicted'. Such a collective voice found its spokes person in Mary. St. Luke associates Mary with the anawin, because she embodied the exaltation of the humble and the poor in her total surrender and trust in God.

In the first reading, St. John spoke about the pregnant woman as a great 'sign' that this woman is more than a mere woman. She is significant and for John, 'sign' refers to something miraculous that points to a deeper spiritual significance. (Jn.2:11,18; Rev.12:1,3). We would consider this honour to Mother Mary whose life is significant in our salvation history.

The second sign is 'the birth of the child'. The pain and suffering that accompanied childbirth (physically and spiritually) signifies the suffering of the faithful community as a prelude to the coming of the Messiah.

What do these signs tell us today?