Homily
for
December 21, 2003
Year C - Cycle II
4th Sunday of Advent
by Fr. John Carney
Topic:
Being Present this Christmas
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Gospel Reading:
Luke 1:39-45
"Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.'"
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I think everyone will agree that more than any other time of the year, Christmas is a time of greeting and welcoming, of coming together, of visiting and reunions. It starts with the Christmas cards three weeks or a month before Christmas (and thank you, by the way! I get so many Christmas cards. I appreciate it.) Early though, when you receive those first cards, there’s a letter enclosed. Then after a while there’s just a note. Then just a signature, then just an initial, then just a stamp on it! It’s the only time of the year you regret having so many friends! But nothing can substitute for a person’s physical presence…no card, no telephone call. Nothing can substitute for being with someone you love. The presence of a loved one is a grace. It’s a gift. Many of our young people are home from college. What a gift it is. Some are home from war, thank God, some permanently. We await others. There was an article in yesterday’s paper about a Lt. Andrew Chavez of the First Armored Division. He was married on Friday at the Cathedral; he is home on his 15-day R&R and was married to his beloved. How happy and how blessed that family must be to have their beloved home from a dangerous war far away. There’s nothing like being present.
Sgt. Phillip Stowe, by the way, of our parish is recovering from his wounds suffered in Iraq. He is doing well in Texas and both his parents are with him. They had to go. There is nothing they can do for him there, but their presence is needed by them and by Sgt. Stowe. Nothing can substitute for the physical presence of a loved one.
Oftentimes when someone is critically ill, the family gathers around. I anointed a man Friday who is in the last days and hours of his life. Some had already come home and others were on their way. Oftentimes you hear, "Did so-and-so get there before Mom died?" Even though she was in a coma, it was important to be there. Those of you who have been fortunate enough to experience that would agree. Just to be present is so important.
Even in good times, in happy times, the physical presence is important. Mary, after the Annunciation, had to run. She “proceeded in haste” the Gospel says, to the hill country to be with Elizabeth, her cousin. She could have called or sent an email, but she proceeded in haste to be with Elizabeth. I love this Gospel reading, which says that when the two pregnant women met, Elizabeth carrying, in her old age, John the Baptist, and Mary carrying the Savior Jesus Christ, “the baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb”, not kicks, but leaps. She must have went, “oomph!” John recognized he was in the presence of the Savior.
And for some the grace of presence has a special meaning, such as for those who are sick or dying or lonely or alienated. Oftentimes, I make it a point to go to the nursing homes or hospitals in the parish on Christmas day and they are vacant; just the residents are there. It’s sad. We need to be with our loved ones, especially at Christmas. People say, “Well, I don’t know what to say to someone who has suffered a loss or is hurting.” You don’t have to say anything; you just have to be there. Really, that‘s the whole message of Christmas. Lord, make us turn to you. Let us see your face and we shall be saved. We needed to see God’s face. He needed to take on our form. We needed to see him present among us to fully believe and be saved.
I know you are very busy, especially these last few days before Christmas, but there is one more thing I’d ask you to do. Be present to someone who is sick or lonely or especially someone who is alienated. Offer that gift of the Christ that is in you. As Mary brought the Christ to Elizabeth, you can bring the Christ that is in you to someone who is hurting. Even if the gift is rejected, God knows you tried. That’s all you can do. If you can’t visit someone, then call them this Christmas to let them know that you love them and care for them.
That is what Christmas is, Emmanuel. God is with us. God will always be with us and we who know that need to bring that Christ to others.