of Mary, the Mother of God - The Octave of , 2016 Cathedral of the , Portland Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2: 16-21

On the news yesterday, I saw a video of a priest in the Philippines who decided to make a more interesting entrance into Church on Christmas night than walking in in the procession. He rode his hoverboard while he led the singing of Christmas carols. I’m so glad no one suggested that to me. This morning, as we gather, let me first of all wish you a blessed and happy New Year. 2016 begins today. We put the old behind us, and we look forward to the new with anticipation and expectation, hoping that the year will bring us and our families blessing and joy. We begin our year in a very good place, here in Church, where we remind ourselves that our God cares for us and watches over us. At the beginning of the year, as we do every time we gather for Eucharist we remind ourselves that God is with us in Jesus Christ. The Church today, of course, continues in the celebration of Christmas. We continue to reflect on the message that Jesus is with us. Today is the Octave day, eight days after the feast. Today, the Church honors Mary, the Mother of God. Our first reading, however, is chosen for the first day of the year. It is a reminder that we begin again with this new year with the blessing of God. What beautiful words to begin the year: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” Those words have been pronounced for centuries, indeed for millennia, even long before the events we hear in the Gospel this morning. They constitute an ancient blessing from the time of Moses. They are, indeed, a beautiful prayer. But the prayer also reflects the relationship the Israelites had with their God and the great awe in which they held him. Out of a veneration for the name of God, Yahweh, it is never pronounced. So in this prayer, rather than using the name of God, the substitute is used. Lord is the word used in place of the name of God. Notice, then, as we continue with our Scripture readings today, and particularly the Gospel, that God himself chooses to take on a face and a person and a name which is turned toward us, humanity. It is the message of Christmas that we hear. God wants to draw closer to us. The shepherds are among the first who encounter Jesus and come to know him. And not surprisingly, the Gospel tells us, they are changed. They return from their visit with the infant “glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and 1 heard.” Of course, they are changed. They have met Jesus. In him, they have found the face of God. God reveals himself in Jesus, not just as a name, but as a Person who has lived with us and who, we believe, still lives with us. We know Jesus from his words in the Scripture and from his actions among us. God has expressed his will to be close to us. “The Lord let his face shine on you.” With gratitude to Mary, whom we celebrate today as Mother of God, we, like the shepherds, are able to rejoice in what has happened to us. Jesus is with us. It is St. Paul who reminds us that Jesus comes among us, not only to assure us of God’s closeness with us but also to become our brother. In him, we become sons and daughters of God, capable of praying like Jesus did, “Abba, Father.” What does this mean for us? I think it helpful if we begin by following Mary’s example that we heard about in the Gospel. How did Mary respond to what was happening around her? The Gospel tells us that she “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” The Evangelist tells us this right after he tells us that the shepherds’ announcement at what they had seen brought amazement to those who heard them speak. Mary is not participating in all the chatter. She is reflective, prayerful, thinking over what she is experiencing and what is happening, and asking herself how God’s hand is in these actions. At the beginning of a new year, it might be helpful for all of us to see if Mary’s example is not something we might follow. The message of Christmas is the message of God coming to us. In Jesus, he shows us his love and mercy. It would be good for us to think about how God is acting in my life. In Jesus, we believe that God draws near to be present with us and to accompany us in life. We need to reflect on how that is happening. God in Jesus is with us. He is here in the Eucharist as we hear the Scripture proclaimed and as we receive his very body and blood in communion. He is here in one another and in our gathering as well. We believe that, gathered as the community, we find Jesus in one another. At the beginning of my remarks today, as I wished you a blessed new year, I said that we “look forward to the new year with anticipation and expectation, hoping that the year will bring us and our families blessing and joy.” If we follow the example of Mary, we will come to realize that Jesus is present in our lives. He brings us love and mercy. He also calls us to participate in what we want to happen. As we reflect on what God has done for us, we become aware, as well, of what we do for one another and how we can be instruments of blessing to those about us, as we can also be instruments of difficulty. In our reflection, we might ask ourselves how we can be more attentive to bring blessing to one another. In that regard, Pope Francis has asked us to think in a special way during this 2 jubilee year of the way in which God brings us mercy. The very coming of Jesus into our world is mercy. God wants to be with us. He wants to forgive us our faults and sins. He wants to assure us of his love. And he wants us to be with him in bringing mercy into our world. “The mercy of God is his loving concern for each of us. He desires our wellbeing and he wants to see us happy, full of joy, and peaceful.” These are the words of Pope Francis as he announces this Jubilee Year. He continues, “This is the path which the merciful love of Christians must also travel. As the Father loves, so do his children. Just as he is merciful, so we are called to be merciful to each other.” As we begin the year, we might resolve to listen, as did Mary, reflectively to our own lives, seeing the many ways in which God has blessed us with his mercy and love, mindful that mercy includes forgiveness. And we might seek ways in which we can be instruments of mercy for those around us in our own families and for the wider communities within which we live. If I might make a suggestion: in this during this Year of Mercy, each month we will devote ourselves to putting into effect a particular corporal or spiritual work of mercy. Last month, we focused on “Visiting the prisoners.” We were happy to do this with the help of some of our deacons who devote themselves, along with many volunteers, to serving those who are incarcerated. Traditionally, it is a time in which I get the opportunity to do that. What does it do? It shows those who are incarcerated that they are part of the community. It also gives a chance to express thanks to those who watch over the prison, to express gratitude to them, and to thank them for their service. In January, we will be focusing on “Clothing the Naked.” Here, just as we did with our deacons and those who work in prisons, we will work in cooperation with all our children and young people who are in our schools and faith formation programs. Together, we will gather clothes for the needy and then, at the end of the month, we will bring them to Threads of Hope, our Catholic Charities’ thrift stores where they can be provided to those in need. In mercy, we will reach out to those who are poor to have the dignity that clothes can provide. By so living in the year ahead, we can participate in showing forth the merciful and compassionate love of God that we celebrate in this Christmas season. By so doing, we will bring blessing into our year. Our Psalm this morning tells us: “May God bless us in his mercy.” We might add to that prayer at the beginning of this year. And may we bring his mercy into our families and communities. A Blessed New Year to you all.

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