Tuesday, September 8, 2020

 Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 (Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 1:1-16.18-23 or Matthew 1:18-23)

The Byzantine Orthodox Church has a beautiful prayer to the Christ child on Christmas.  The prayer expresses the age-old desire to present Jesus with a special gift.  It proposes as a truly worthy offering on the part of humanity a Virgin Mother.  She is Mary, the fairest of women – one who will prepare Jesus for his mission of revealing God’s love.

Today the Church celebrates Mary in a special way.  Hers is the only birthday recognized in the liturgical calendar besides those of Jesus and John the Baptist.  By calling attention to her birth, the Church recognizes a life completely dedicated to God. 

Mary is also singled out as a model for young and old today.  We should find in her chastity to be happy in our state of life.  She also personifies obedience to God’s will as she accepts the offer to be the Mother of the Savior.  Most of all, of course, Mary exemplifies love.  She cares for Jesus at his birth in Matthew and Luke and at his death in John’s gospel.  She speaks up in Cana for the whole world.  “’They have no wine,’” is a plaintive call for the happiness of the kingdom.  Each of us should strive to live as faithfully as this woman.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Feast of St. Stephen, Proto-martyr

 

(Acts 6:8-10.7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22)

Some may think that the Feast of the Martyrdom of St. Stephen is celebrated today because Stephen was killed on December 26.  However, there is no record of the date of his martyrdom.  No, the Church celebrates Stephen’s martyrdom on the day after Christmas to temper Christian joy.  The martyrdom of Stephen reminds the faithful that Jesus was born to die on the cross to atone for their sins.  Not only that, but Christians are called to carry their crosses after him.

Of course, most Christians will die in bed like everyone else.  But they should not think that bloody martyrdom does not exist today.  It occurs thousands of times every year.  Perhaps this horrible truth was never better exhibited than almost five years ago.  The Islamic State aired a video then of its recent slaughter of twenty-one Christians in Libya.  Some people hate Christ and his followers because of his devotion to God, the Father.  They resent anyone who calls them to love and not lord it over others.

It is remarkable the way business slows down for a week or so during the Christmas season.  We are wise to use the leisure time, at least in part, for contemplation.  We need to ask ourselves, “How is it that God became human?”  There is a follow-up question almost as important, “What does the God-human now expect of me?”

Homilette for February 29, 2008

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

(Hosea 14:2-10; Matthew 12:28-34)

Elvis Presley used to sing a song called, “Words.” “It's only words,” he crooned, “and words are all I have to take your heart away.” In the first reading today, the prophet Hosea tells us that God wants us to woo His heart with words. “Take with you words,” the prophet says on behalf of God, “and return to the Lord.” Our words are like rockets that bring us close to God. We don’t have to climb any mountains or cross any seas. We only have to say that we are sorry for having offended Him.

But as we all know words often fall short of reality. Sometimes we use words deceptively or, at least, in ways that do not match our abilities. “I would do anything for you,” a university student would tell his girlfriend. “Would you spend Friday night at the library with me?” she asked in response. “I would,” he said, “but I am busy at that time.” We must also be sincere in heart which is usually demonstrated by self-sacrifice.

The step between words on the lips and sincerity in the heart is all that is missing from the scribe’s entering the Kingdom of God in the gospel. Jesus does not mean to criticize the man when he says that is he is “not far from the Kingdom of God.” He only means to say the scribe’s approval for Jesus’ own great commandments is not enough for salvation. He must take Jesus’ words to heart and put them into practice. As St. Paul writes to the Romans, both confession with the mouth and belief in the heart are necessary to be saved. In biblical times, when speaking openly about faith in Christ might arouse familial or public censure, such speech might have sufficed as proof of sincerity. Certainly today, however, most of us most of the time need to demonstrate our sincerity with actions of self-sacrifice.