|
The On-Line Chapel of St. Julie Billiart Parish |
||
..December 19, 2004 4th Sunday of Advent Year A Deacon Mike Kiley St. Julie Billiart Isaiah 7:10-14 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24
Presentation by
|
A Pre-Christmas HomilyI cant quite believe Christmas is just seven days away from today. When I was younger, Christmas never came fast enough. Now it feels like I just finished with Easter and bam, it's Christmas. I find myself dreading the holiday season. I realized this dread is because I try to do too much. I believe I have to take control. Instead of allowing the season to speak to me of the beauty of the coming of the savior, I'm too busy checking my shopping list and searching for the best buys. But I don't believe I'm alone in this and today's first reading and the gospel helped me to take a look at myself. In the first reading we hear the story of king Ahaz. This man had everything. He was the king of Judah, his capitol was the great city of Jerusalem. But he didn't trust God. He believed he had to do it all himself. So God sends the prophet Isaiah to him and he tells Ahaz, ask God for a sign, let it be whatever you want. But Ahaz rejects the offer and he sounds almost humble about it. Oh no, I will not ask. I would not dream of asking the lord for something great! The reality here is that Ahaz does not quite believe God can do it as good as he can. Ahaz has bought into the world around him. It is what he can and will do himself that counts, that matters. Even in his obstinacy, God is still willing to give a great gift to Ahaz by the promise that a child would come into the world and his name would be Emmanuel, which translated means, God is with us. The promise of a gift that God will take human form and walk this earth. The rest of the story is not in today's reading but Ahaz will come to a bad end through his own decisions. I found this all sounding so familiar; how little the world has changed. Like the time of Ahaz, our modern world tells us that we can have it all, if we want it enough, if we are willing to place all of our trust in our own efforts and endeavors. God? Well, he's someone we turn to when we're in trouble and all our endeavors haven't worked out. Our world can be pretty loud, it can drown out the prophets in our lives. These days especially our TV's will shout out how many shopping days we have left and come to our place for the best deals. Buy, buy, buy, don't be left out. But if we are willing to shut out the noise and be quite, maybe we can hear the whisper of the prophet, Therefore the lord himself will give you a sign... but we need to remember we have to leave the choice of what that sign is up to him. We have to trust that what God wants to give us is what we truly need, not what we think we need. Our gospel today is about accepting what God wants to give us and to do it with trust. Joseph is a young man in love. He and his betrothed are to be married. There is joy and excitement. Then it is discovered that his Mary is found to be with child and the child is not his. His world tells him not to marry her; this is his right. But then he has a dream and in that dream he hears words of a plan that is in opposition to his decision. He accepts, he believes; he says yes to God's plan. He and Mary become husband and wife. Joseph puts aside his plans, his politically correct plans and makes the decision to accept in faith what he has heard in a dream and that decision allows God's gift to the world to become a reality with the birth of Jesus. Today people say there are no prophets. We say dreams are just a release of the subconscious. Our world says believe in only what you can see. Faith asks us for something completely different. Our faith asks us to believe in God even when our prayers appear not to be answered. Faith asks us to believe that where there is hate and dissension, love can spring up. Faith asks us to believe that our tears are never without value. Faith asks us to believe that we are never alone. Faith asks us to let go and let God. Are we willing to listen to words of faith when we meet modern day prophets? People do come into our lives bringing words of hope and love. Do we listen? At times our dreams will allow us to see truths we layer over with the worries and the obligations of our daily lives. Do we ever turn those dreams over to God and ask him to show us the truth of what those dreams may be trying to tell us? It is a challenge to be people of faith. That is why I need to come together here with you in prayer. I need to see others who are walking, maybe stumbling through the journey of faith because we are all baptized in him thus we are all connected. And it is in the Eucharist that we come together in the hope and the reality of faith that says, Yes, this is he, the real body and blood of the child who is coming to us, has come to us and will continue to come to us; the promise fulfilled for our eternal happiness. Christmas is just around the corner and maybe you're sitting there thinking, when will this guy finish talking, and your running through those lists in your mind of things you've got to do today. I hear you. We are only human. But today I ask God to help us to know and accept the true joy and meaning of this season. Maybe it will take a prophet telling it to my face or a dream that will enlighten my vision. I don't know. Maybe it could be the cry of a new born infant or the brightness of a star on a clear, cold night. Maybe it will come from the embrace of a loved one or someone wishing a sincere, Merry Christmas. whatever it will take, I pray I will take the time to listen for the message of love from him. I pray I will take time to just be. Just to be in the silence and the wonder at the miracle of how much he loves us. He gave me and you his only son, who gave me and you his only life so that we could live an eternity of joy and peace. Now that is a gift worth cherishing and living. Deacon Mike Kiley
|
|
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
||
