Homily Cycle B 12/20/2020 - 4th Sunday of Advent
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
The “Story is called Mary vs. Eve.”
One week a Sunday school teacher told her class the Christmas story, about Mary and Joseph, their trip to Bethlehem, and how Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. After telling the story the teacher asked, "Who do you think the most important woman in the Bible is?"
Expecting one of the children to say, "Mary." A little boy raised his hand and
said, "Eve." The teacher asked him why he thought Eve was the most important woman in the Bible. Not missing a beat, the little boy replied, "Well, they named two days of the year after Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve." [Sermons.Com – Traditional]
In 1987 the philosopher Allan Bloom published, The Closing of the American Mind. In it he “… suggests that part of our mind is darkening. Our sophistication is making us smarter but less wise.” [Sunday Website, Ron Rolheiser, In Exile, 12/20/2020]
We are not meant to be simply be “smarter”, being wiser is more important in our world today because information increases so rapidly, but wisdom is hard work. It takes reflection on why we do what we do, and what God’s wants us to do.
What God wants us to do many times difficult and challenging, like Mary in today’s Gospel.
In the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Henry Ossawa Tanner’s oil painting of The Annunciation is housed. You can see it below or you can go to the museum website. It is a beautiful, powerful and provocative painting.
You will “… see a teenage girl, dressed in peasant robes, sitting on a rumpled bed in a room with bumpy, cobblestone floor. She seems afraid and awed.” [Philadelphia Museum of Art – website]
Mary wisely listened to God and did what God asked of her even though it was difficult. St. Paul said that this mystery was kept secret since the beginning of time. In our reading from 2 Samuel, we heard, “The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.” That house was the womb of Mary, who was the “… the first human person who could say, ‘This is my body, this is my blood.’” [Sunday website, 12/20/2020, John Kavanaugh]
In our second reading, St. Paul said we should be obedient to God through Jesus Christ. Then, in our Gospel Mary is “greatly troubled” at the message the angel Gabriel announced to her. [Sunday Website, Fr. John Foley, SJ] Eventually she proclaims “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
During the last few days of Advent, ask for “… the grace to listen and to hear.” To listen and to hear what God wants you to do, follow Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Light. Cardinal Dolan offered this insight on Advent. “The focus of our Advent Waiting is Threefold, God comes to us in history [over 2000 years ago],
in mystery [now] and in majesty [the 2nd Coming].
Advent teaches us to Hope and to Prepare so we can in Joy; love the Lord and others. Advent is a gift that invites us more deeply into God’s life; God invites us to Wait, to Act, to be Aware. Jesus comes in mystery [now] in the sacraments, in the Word/Bible, in loving others and in being loved by others.
With time remaining in Advent let’s focus on the Seven Salesian Virtues:
1. Endure Patiently,
2. See the Bright Side,
3. Show Good Humor,
4. Stay Cheerfully Excusing,
5. Put on a Good Face,
6. Be Appreciative,
7. Speak Gently and Show Courtesy
Take a few minutes to reflect on your Advent preparations and adopt the Seven Salesian Virtues to start or to complete them.
May God Be Praised!
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