Mary Mother of God – Homily (C)

frmac — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:30:04 +0000

As we begin the New Year, the church calls us to pray to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God, and to reflect on her life. Yet, as we listen to and read the scriptural passages+ for this feast, we learn very little about Mary – just that she is Jesus’ mother, and that she pondered and treasured what the Shepherds said in her heart. Most of us would like to know more about Mary, but the scriptures tell us very little. What we do know is that her life was not always an easy one. From the birth in Bethlehem to the foot of the cross where she saw her Son die, it it obvious that Mary lived with trust and hope in God. Did she have moments of quandary, disillusionment, confusion and even doubt, as she lived her life and raised and buried her son? Of this, the scriptures say nothing, but I suspect she did. If her son could cry out in agony, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me,” then I suspect Mary had similar moments in her life too.

Just because we have moments of desperation, does not mean that we have given up on God and lost all hope, it only means that we are human and in need of God’s love and God’s care. This we find in prayer, in grace, and in the love and support of our neighbor (friends, family, and even stranger).

Some homilies I have read or heard on this feast day idealize Mary’s life. No matter what happens in Mary’s life, they seem to think that she remained calm and absolutely peaceful. Almost as if she was outside of life, and only viewed it from a distance – a heavenly distance. Now that doesn’t seem very real, or human to me. Mary was a human being, just like her son – that is the whole point of the incarnation (Christmas mystery). If I reflect on the few passages in the bible about Mary, I have to conclude that no matter what happened, Mary never really lost hope, and her life reflected a trust in God, and a determination to do what God wanted. Did she have difficult – down moments? Of course, she was human. And that is why she is an inspiration to all of us. God loved her, and selected her to be the mother of Jesus, and because she is God’s mother, and we are God’s children, in some mysterious divine way she is our Mother too and she love and understands us. Through Mary, the human race was reborn, revived, redeemed, and through her, humanity was able to begin again.
Today – Tonight as we begin the Year 2010 it is a time of new beginnings – a time for resolutions:

Let us Resolve to accept angels when they come into our lives, announcing the impossible.
Let us Resolve to remember that nothing is impossible with God.
Let us Resolve to welcome strangers – the shepherds of our own world who show up unexpectedly in our lives.
Let us Resolve to live in wonder, and humility, and trust.
Let us Resolve to ponder and treasure our life’s journey in our hearts.
And, last but not least, let us Resolve to live in possibility, and in hope.*

This, I think, is what it means to live like Mary. It is to recognize and accept the mystery of our humanity, and to embrace the divine.

Today, as we begin the New Year, let us ask Mary the Mother of God, and our Mother in Heaven to watch over and pray for us as we begin a New Year. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

* Resolutions based on homily of Deacon Greg Kandra

+Scriptural Passages: Numbers 6: 22-27; Psalm 67; Galatians 4: 4-7; Luke 2: 16-21

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Second Sunday of Advent – Homily (C)

frmac — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:45:46 +0000

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians this weekend we hear powerful words of hope and encouragement: Brothers and Sisters, I thank my God every time I remember you…,because of your sharing in the Gospel from the first day until now…. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more…, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

Many, I fear today, will think these words pure unadulterated and unrealistic idealism. “Open your eyes, there is no such thing as real righteousness,” they say. “People are too self-centred and greedy. If you live and share the gospel by living by the Jesus message, the needy, the lazy, the selfish, and the merciless will walk over you.” “Be realistic,” they will say, “and look after yourself in the here and the now, because if you don’t, no one else will.”

Sometimes, I am tempted to think these nay Sayers right. Greed and selfishness are as alive and well today, as they were in the time of Jesus. Many aren’t interested in hearing about sacrifice, forgiving one’s neighbor, sharing with the poor and looking out for them. Many, it seems are just interested in looking after themselves, their families, and getting ahead. Preach the “prosperity gospel,” some advise, if you want your church full, and your collection baskets overflowing. And, there is some strong truth to this, if one investigates the growth and wealth of certain churches and denominations. If you don’t believe me, just Google the words ‘prosperity gospel’. In mid-November the National Post had this is to say about this form of Christianity:

When Christianity is used to push materialism above all else, that is when the religious teachings become corrupted….
“The [real] warning of the early Church to the rich was not to get possessed by their possessions,” (a professor Finn said from St. John’s University, a Catholic University in Minnesota)

“And if they can’t give their possession away that’s proof that they are possessed by their possession. They’re not the master of their wealth, they are its servant.” (National post link for full story)

Pete Seeger the legendary folk singer penned these words decades ago for the song: This Land was made for You and Me:

“In the squares of the city, under shadow of the steeple,
        at the relief office, I saw my people.
        As they stood there hungry, I stood there whistling,
        this land was made for you and me.
A great high wall there tried to stop me.
        A great big sign there said private property,
        but on the other side it didn’t say nothing.
        That side was made for you and me.”

On May 5th of this year (2009) he celebrated his 90th birthday along with 18,000 people at Madison Square Gardens. Against all odds he never gave up singing for justice at home and abroad – and for this he suffered dearly for over two decades – blacklisted and banned across the U.S. In 2004, speaking to a reporter on Why to Have Hope, he quoted Jesus’ parable of the seeds: The reporter asks, “For some one who isn’t so hopeful trying to find that way (the way of hope) what would you say?” He replies: Realize that little things lead to bigger things….There is this wonderful parable in the New Testament. The sower scatters seeds. Some seeds fall on the pathway and get stomped on – they don’t grow. Some fall on the rocks, and they don’t grow. But some seed fall on fallow ground and they grow and multiply a thousand fold. Who knows where some good little thing that you’ve done will bring results years later”.”

I Think that as we journey through this second week of Advent it is important to remind ourselves that we are a people of Hope. And if we are to retain this hopeful stance it is important that we cherish this little parable about the the sower and the seeds, for it is this little story that helps us all recognize the goodness of others in the good little things that they do. it also motivates us to remain hopeful and to plant small, wonderful, good little seeds in the fallow soil along the path of our own lives. It is also this little parable that reminds us to repent for missed opportunities, and selfish deeds. Let our prayer be this week be the hopeful prophecy of Isaiah, and command of John The Baptist: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia.

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Posted in 2nd Sundy of Advent, Advent (C), Year C

Fr. Bob's Homilies

Mary Mother of God – Homily (C)

Second Sunday of Advent – Homily (C)