Lately, I can’t sleep past four in the morning. Early today I decided I was not going to waste time trying to fall asleep for another hour or two. I will invest that time in writing a post or in prayer. I hope I can do both things right. I am approaching the beginning of my seventh decade. Time seems to fly and events in the world make me wonder how many of us will remain in this world at the end of the 1335 days that the prophet Daniel talked about.

I was baptized one August 15, 2001. It was the beginning of many trials but also of many joys. My life is now forever tied to the Assumption which is a mysterious event. I see it as the holy reverse of Eve being expelled from Eden. Perhaps Eve followed her husband Adam in stepping on this troubled world. The second Adam entered first in Heaven after the Crucifixion and the second Eve, Mary of Nazareth was assumed a few years after Him.

Imagine the blessed day when one angel informed Mary that she was going to be the Mother of the Messiah. Adam could easily “call his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20) but young Mary of Nazareth didn’t know what her future role was going to be in the salvation of faithful mankind. She was destined to be the Mother of all who will truly live but not only their Mother but an active participant in their redemption.

Mary had to face many temptations during her life in this world. The most horrible was the contemplation of the Cross. It was necessary to conquer all that pain and she did it. In some way that I cannot even begin to comprehend she wished with all her heart to be crucified in her Son’s stead. That was needed to counteract the error of the first woman. Eve coveted the forbidden fruit thus plunging the whole of mankind into a cosmic catastrophe.

The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother is therefore the opposite of that disaster. The wonderful part for us turns out to be: if we had no option but to follow Eve into this world of sin and death, we will also follow Mary Our Mother to the enjoyment of Heaven’s blessings.

I believe we are moving closer to the completion of our redemption in these present days. We should be thanking Our Mother, praising her always for having defeated sin by following her Son all the way to Calvary. A simple young girl is all God needed to defeat the devil. What a woman that young girl turned out to be!

Think of how the trials and sorrows of her life led her into the glorious joys of Heaven and how she will take the faithful home when that time comes. In the words of Fr. Luis Andreu: “What a wonderful Mother we have in Heaven!”