«
»

Homily – December 24, 2017

I think that by the time this weekend is over Frs. Brando, John, Steve, Bernard and I will be ‘preached out.’ The gospel for this day before Christmas goes back to that moment when eternity was joined to time and the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you – the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.”

Mary was certainly confused and overwhelmed by Gabriel’s message. She was probably 15 years old at the time. She put her trust in the living God and said those words that changed human history – ‘let it be done to me according to your word.’

Mary opened her heart and her life to the will and way of God.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the child Mary conceived by the saying of those words – be it done to me, may we pray for ourselves and for each other that we be blessed with Mary’s faith and trust in God and echo her words as we face the uncertainties and challenges of life – be it done to me according to you will.

God knows it is not an easy thing to say, especially as wait for the results of tests that may determine the months and years ahead of us. It is not an easy thing to say as we deal with the death of someone we love. It is not an easy thing to say as we surrender our lives to the mysteries of our future. It can frighten us, if we stop and think of what we say as we rush through the Our Father, ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done’.

Pope Paul VI called Mary ‘she whose life was available to God’. As we celebrate this Mass shortly ending one year and beginning another let us pray for ourselves and for each other that we be blessed with the strength to say, in all the circumstance of our lives, ‘be it done to me according to your word’. Thy will be one on earth as it is in heaven. It ain’t easy.

This Homily entry was posted on Sunday, December 24th, 2017.