21st December 2008
I would love to have been in the room when the Archangel paid his visit to the young girl from Nazareth who was known as Mary. Because unbelievably, this is the most important dialogue that ever took place in history. Imagine Mary's reaction to this heavenly visitor and what he was asking of her. You can almost sense her shyness, her fear, her heart beating faster than normal. Imagine what was going through her mind, why me, why now, what about the future that I planned with Joseph, what about what I want. Moreover, this baby, what will people say, and how will a child of mine turn out so great?
Then she abandons herself to God and speaks her yes, a yes that she would carry in her heart forever more. Visitors to this Church are very impressed with our Madonna and Child. If you pray before it you see a true representation of what Mary must have been like around the time of the birth of her Son. A young girl, a proud mother who smiled at the son she carried. If you look carefully at the statue the child is caressing a rose that has thorns along it, this is a symbol of the cruelty of this unbelieving world that even today fails to be impressed with his appearing. However, Mary carries the chid for as long as she can, she keeps him safe and close to her.
During this last week of Advent may Mary who now shares heaven with her Son help us to become aware of the real reason why we celebrate at this mid point of winter. All generations have indeed called her blessed because she placed her life in the hands of God and never refused anything he asked of her, her delivery of her Son in a stable, the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, standing beneath the Cross of her Son. May her yes be repeated in our hearts as we ourselves journey these last few days to Bethlehem. Amen.
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Homilies Archive
2009 HOMILIES
25th December 2008
Christmas
21st December 2008
14th December 2008
8th December 2008
Immaculate Conception
7th December 2008
2nd Sunday of Advent
30th November 2008
1st Sunday of Advent
23rd November 2008
Christ the King
16th November 2008
2nd November 2008
All Souls
1st November 2008
All Saints
26th October 2008
12th October 2008
5th October 2008
28th September 2008
21st September 2008
14th September 2008
7th September 2008
31st August 2008
24th August 2008
17th August 2008
15th August 2008
Assumption
10th August 2008
3rd August 2008
20th July 2008
13th July 2008
29th June 2008
22nd June 2008
1st June 2008
23rd March 2008
Easter Sunday
22nd March 2008
Easter Vigil
2nd March 2008
24th February 2008
17th February 2008
10th February 2008
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