The solemnity that we celebrate today is the celebration of the life of our Blessed Mother, based on the dogma that she was taken up, body and soul, into heaven. This singular honour is accorded not just in recognition of her role as Mother of God, but also celebrates her faith and obedience to the call of God. This is, in many ways, revolutionary because an ordinary woman, from a little village in Galilee, is honoured above all other women from her time and beyond. This reverses the normal worldly emphasis on fame and honour, and places value squarely on our ability to be faithful and loving.

The beautiful Magnificat from today's Gospel is a proclamation of the Lord's mission to turn the world on its head, pulling princes from thrones and exalting the lowly, feeding the hungry and sending the rich away empty. This song emphasises God's preferential love for the poor and marginalised, reversing societal standards and reminding us to turn our attention to those around us who are in need. This perspective can be very freeing for us, especially in modern times, because we are invited to turn aside from the pursuit of fame and glory, while exercising our faculties of faith and love instead. While this might not be easy, we are assured of the intercession of our Blessed Mother in following her route of obedience to God's Will.