Subscribe now to receive new weekly essays by email!
Assumptions - We find it good to consider assumptions carefully
Unless we believe that we should just do whatever comes to mind, we need to make reasonable assumptions about the consequences of our intended actions and those of others. For example, if we send an invitation to many people, we will likely know enough about those invited to make a workable assumption about the number of those who will attend. We also know that holding unreasonable assumptions is counterproductive, as if we assumed that all who were invited would come and then become disappointed when some do not even reply and others do not follow through even though they said that they would attend. Most assumptions are based on trust in our ability to make assumptions, since we cannot know for certain what all the consequences will be of every action.
Another kind of assumption is when an official of some kind is chosen to take on specific responsibilities and there is an assumption of office for such a person. In a related fashion, August 15 is the date for celebrating the Assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was brought directly to be with him in glory and given the responsibility of treating all God’s people as her own children. Another way of describing her assumption of office is that she has become the mother of all who are the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus, a family relationship open to all, including those who do not believe in or accept such a status. The power associated with her role is only that of love, her love for her son and for us.
The assumption of his mother is a gracious gift, showing us the extent of Gods faithfulness to humanity. Rather than somehow “using” Mary as a temporary means of becoming one of us, Jesus not only continues to retain his humanity for eternity as God but does so together with the mother of his humanity. We could never have imagined that we frail and often erring people could be loved to such an extent, but this is what is celebrated in the Assumption of Mary and the subsequent role of her care for us.
Rather than assume that because we are so loved, we can do no wrong or that we will not suffer hurts, disappointments, or even true guilt on occasion, we accept the reality of our dependence on God to guide and inspire us day by day, in and through all the small and large decisions we make. In addition, we have available to us the loving support of Mary, who has assumed the office of helping us to move ever closer to her son, Jesus.
The Assumption is not only an affirmation of Mary but also manifests how greatly God values all of us.
Last Updated 8/15/2026