Today’s  solemnity commemorates Mary being assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. The date was formally confirmed in the 9th century by Pope Leo IV, who helped solidify its celebration throughout the universal Church. The dogma is especially fitting when one examines the honor that was given to the ark of the covenant. It contained the manna (bread from heaven), stone tablets of the ten commandments (the word of God), and the staff of Aaron (a symbol of Israel’s high priesthood). Because of its contents, it was made of incorruptible wood, if this vessel was given such honor, how much more should Mary be kept from corruption, since she is the new ark—who carried the real bread from heaven, the Word of God, and the high priest of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. After all, if Mary is immaculately conceived, then it would follow that she would not suffer the corruption in the grave, which is a consequence of sin. The Assumption fulfills the radical promises of reversal  that Mary sings about in her Magnificat. May we too glorify the Lord by our lives as faithful disciples like Our Lady did doing God’s will till the end