4th Sunday of Advent Homily: We remember to make it real
The Jewish spiritual understanding of remembering is called Anamnesis. We remember to make what we remember real in our lives. It is not nostalgia, but a call to action. For the Jewish people, Passover was and is pre-eminent. They remember how God freed them so as to live out that freedom in their lives.
God created all. God created all with a purpose. God created this universe and this world to be one with God. We are part of that creation.
We have a special place in creation, in that our humanity is about the work with and for God to continue creation; to make heaven and earth one.
We also need to remember that Creation was not just a one singular event, but is an ongoing process; it continues until this today. And amid that process of creation God does something wonderful, and God asks Mary to participate in this wonderful action.
Mary, full of Grace, willingly participates in God's plan. She models humanity; she symbolizes what we were created for. She works for and with God to fulfill all of Creation, Jesus Christ. She would remember all that God has done for her people and she puts it into action.
Jesus as Son of God and Son of Mary, signifies God’s will for all to be one. He is the Divine and the Created, united. He signifies Heaven and earth as one. Jesus incarnates God's desire for creation and Heaven to be one.
God created all. God created all with a purpose. God created this universe and this world to be one with God. We are part of that creation.
We have a special place in creation, in that our humanity is about the work with and for God to continue creation; to make heaven and earth one.
We also need to remember that Creation was not just a one singular event, but is an ongoing process; it continues until this today. And amid that process of creation God does something wonderful, and God asks Mary to participate in this wonderful action.
Mary, full of Grace, willingly participates in God's plan. She models humanity; she symbolizes what we were created for. She works for and with God to fulfill all of Creation, Jesus Christ. She would remember all that God has done for her people and she puts it into action.
Jesus as Son of God and Son of Mary, signifies God’s will for all to be one. He is the Divine and the Created, united. He signifies Heaven and earth as one. Jesus incarnates God's desire for creation and Heaven to be one.
In Christmas, we celebrate this; we Remember it; we remember to
make it real in our lives.
Christmas then will make us think about the unity of heaven and earth. Christmas makes us pause to discern how we can work with God. We remember our own call to action
In Jesus, through his person, teachings and of course the death and resurrection, we understand that when heaven and earth are one there is equity and justice; the dignity of all persons is respected, from conception to natural death, no matter the condition of their lives.
Our work then is of living for this equity and justice; this is why we forgive, why we show generosity, show compassion, mercy, kindness. This is why we work to end all the -isms; racism, sexism, nationalism… This is why we work to end poverty and lift all people up.
Christmas celebrates a renewal of this mission.
As we follow Mary in Luke’s gospel after this episode, after her assent to God’s plan, Mary goes to her cousin Elizabeth to aid her. Full of Grace, she goes to help her elderly cousin. She doesn’t sit around, but goes into action.
The First reading points to a problem however of humanity.
David wanted to do things his way. He thought he was doing something good, but David’s ego was in control. He would make God his house, which was in fact a way to say I am in control. It took Nathan to realize this, and humble David. David became the opposite of Mary.
We too can fall into David's pattern. We assume we know what God wants; but the reality is it more about what we want. We try to tell God what to do and when to do it, and how to do it.
Thus we have the divisions among us. This is why we think we only have to work for those whom we approve of, that meet our own qualifications.
We can all fall into this trap.
We as Catholics have remedies. We have our Scriptures, our Traditions, we have each other as Church; to help us Remember the Core of Jesus' teachings, his revelation of the Father, and the reality of Heaven.
This is why we pray and discern; to ensure we are truly humble, and be as Mary. This is why we come to the Eucharist, to remember God’s work.
Mary tried to grasp what was being asked, she declared an essential fact about herself, and then said “Okay, do it.”
She didn’t try to micro-manage the angel, or come up with another plan.
Think of the joy we experience as we participate...when we do something that is based in love. When we feed the poor, when we forgive someone; when we buy gifts for another to show our appreciation.
We can do this, it really is that simple, and it really is part of God’s plan, our humanity.
I think Jesus whispers to us, leads us to do what is truly right, for the good of all. Jesus calls us to be true to our humanity, to transform this world, as he did through his ministry, and clearly through his death and resurrection.
Can we hear it? Can we remember him and make it real?
Christmas then will make us think about the unity of heaven and earth. Christmas makes us pause to discern how we can work with God. We remember our own call to action
In Jesus, through his person, teachings and of course the death and resurrection, we understand that when heaven and earth are one there is equity and justice; the dignity of all persons is respected, from conception to natural death, no matter the condition of their lives.
Our work then is of living for this equity and justice; this is why we forgive, why we show generosity, show compassion, mercy, kindness. This is why we work to end all the -isms; racism, sexism, nationalism… This is why we work to end poverty and lift all people up.
Christmas celebrates a renewal of this mission.
As we follow Mary in Luke’s gospel after this episode, after her assent to God’s plan, Mary goes to her cousin Elizabeth to aid her. Full of Grace, she goes to help her elderly cousin. She doesn’t sit around, but goes into action.
The First reading points to a problem however of humanity.
David wanted to do things his way. He thought he was doing something good, but David’s ego was in control. He would make God his house, which was in fact a way to say I am in control. It took Nathan to realize this, and humble David. David became the opposite of Mary.
We too can fall into David's pattern. We assume we know what God wants; but the reality is it more about what we want. We try to tell God what to do and when to do it, and how to do it.
Thus we have the divisions among us. This is why we think we only have to work for those whom we approve of, that meet our own qualifications.
We can all fall into this trap.
We as Catholics have remedies. We have our Scriptures, our Traditions, we have each other as Church; to help us Remember the Core of Jesus' teachings, his revelation of the Father, and the reality of Heaven.
This is why we pray and discern; to ensure we are truly humble, and be as Mary. This is why we come to the Eucharist, to remember God’s work.
Mary tried to grasp what was being asked, she declared an essential fact about herself, and then said “Okay, do it.”
She didn’t try to micro-manage the angel, or come up with another plan.
Think of the joy we experience as we participate...when we do something that is based in love. When we feed the poor, when we forgive someone; when we buy gifts for another to show our appreciation.
We can do this, it really is that simple, and it really is part of God’s plan, our humanity.
I think Jesus whispers to us, leads us to do what is truly right, for the good of all. Jesus calls us to be true to our humanity, to transform this world, as he did through his ministry, and clearly through his death and resurrection.
Can we hear it? Can we remember him and make it real?
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