Assumption of Mary (2012-08-15)

This is my homily for 15 August   2012 (Assumption). I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (7:00 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.  We resume Sunday August 26, 2012. 

[__01]  Today is the feast, the Holy Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And, we have just read from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 1.

Mary travels to the home of her kinswoman/cousin Elizabeth – Elizabeth who considers the GREETING of the traveler, Mary, to be a blessing.

Elizabeth responds to Mary: “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”

This greeting is God’s word, God’s revelation …or we might say, God’s inspiration and direction to us. Are we ready for this greeting?

[__02] The immediate recognition of Elizabeth – and of her child, John the Baptist is part of the Good News. Others in the Gospel – even those who meet the grown up Jesus – respond much more slowly.

Are you and I open to receiving God’s word – inspiration – which may also touch us rapidly or surprisingly, in real time.

Mary has been travelling some days or weeks to reach the hill country. There was radio silence, no status updates, no traffic reports. Suddenly, Mary is at the door …in all the swiftness of Travelocity.

 [__03]   In a greeting, we learn about TRUST, FIDELITY, COMMITMENT.

The elder Elizabeth welcomes the younger Mary after a long journey. Elizabeth senses – perceives this trust, fidelity, commitment in Mary.  Moreover, Elizabeth – and her son John [the Baptist] – perceive God’s presence in through Mary and Jesus.

Both learn this quickly.

 [__04] Should a greeting reveal so much? Give away so much?

Don’t and formal welcomes and handshakes also allow us to hide, conceal. In the days before unlimited TALK/TEXT/WEB, we would send telegrams… and really keep things brief.  And, “STOP”right there.

In a person’s posture or greeting, we can understand someone’s personality, mood, based on his or her presentation.

But, in the Gospel, despite a long and difficult off road, overland journey, Mary is enthusiastic …and revealing.

[__05]  Certainly we know people who selectively conceal or reveal by their greetings. We may do the same by our

• Choice of words, the sheer number of words we use
• Tone
• Body language – including the number of times we look at my cell phones during the conversation.  Am I really present?

[__06]   In the Gospel, Mary and Elizabeth demonstrate their faithfulness by the way the receive the Lord in their lives and by the way they greet each other.

[__07]   Both Mary and Elizabeth recognize the image of God present in the other and in their children.

No pre-recorded messages.

[__08]    For us, it may be a struggle – but it is also a worthwhile challenge – to resist the pre-recorded message that we may give to others.

In other words, to resist the pre-recorded response in my head to the person who seems unpleasant or difficult.

The pre-recorded response may seem efficient.  But, it may not be what the moment demands. It may not reflect what is happening in real time. Ultimately, it may slow me down.

[__09]   The cheerful greeting to the difficult person is also an act of loving kindness.

Maybe, I don’t want to reveal/offer the friendly “Travelocity”– yet traditional - greetings of Mary and Elizabeth. I may want to hide

[__10]   We are called each day to welcome God’s word and will.   And, the visitors placed at our doorstep. And, this calls us to be aware of the settings we have made or will make in our greetings.

“Privacy” / “Out of the office” / “Call back later”

[__11] And, to ask ourselves who we can communicate God’s love by our greetings by our welcome.

And, also to consider how we can receive God’s love by our openness to the graciousness of others, even to others who are not on our preferred list of EMAIL ADDRESSES …or SPEED DIAL.

 [__12]  We can receive these greetings immediately, in the moment, as Mary and Elizabeth do in their real time exchange.

It is through our private prayer and meditation, our times of slowing down that we prepare for these greetings. For the word God speaks each day.

The bell might be ringing now … or will do so very soon.   

We pray so that we can be more alert, aware, to the word God speaks each day, so that we can also respond at the moment the greeting reaches our ears.  [__fin__]