Homily for 3rd Sunday of Advent: 12/12/21
Bishop Nancy Meyer
Today we are weaving together the joyful 3rd Sunday of Advent with the beautiful and important feast for all of us, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our CCL readings took the liberty of using the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth since it is only scheduled once in the three-year cycle of the Sunday lectionary.
As we consider Elizabeth and Zechariah and the pregnancy that ensued, known today as a geriatric pregnancy, must have put them in some confusion even as they accepted it. Mary, on the other hand, must have been mystified, uncertain and frightened with her particular situation. None of them, none of them knew what the future was going to hold with their acceptance of the call. Such uncertainty, the unknowing in a difficult political and social time. Their life path had been intersected by an “out of the blue” call from God that disrupted their lives. Each responded affirmatively and thus this call and response put them on a path of transformation. What they envisioned their life to be was radically changed. You are on a new path, is what the call from God meant for them. You are on a new path, now.
Their response to the Holy One came out of deep contemplation that led to their ability to say yes. There always seems to be a struggle with a call or experience from God that leads us to a future that we had never imagined. We all know how that works because we live our life in the reality of Emmanuel, God-with-us. How will this discernment unfold to do what the call from God is asking? How will it impact not only myself but everyone I love and care about? There are a gamut of thoughts, feelings and gut responses as we ponder the invitation that our God extends to us!
In another story we heard today, Juan Diego was interrupted on his journey by an appearance of Mary. He lived in the era after the Spanish conquest of the native peoples in Mexico and Central America. It was a difficult life and they were poor. Juan was an indigenous Native Mexican peasant and minding his own business. When Mary appeared to Juan she spoke in the language of the Aztecs. She wanted this poor man to go tell the bishop that she wanted a church build on the site that she appeared. This is where our story takes up this morning. When the bishop did not believe him, Juan decided to go around the hill on the other side so that he would not be visited by the Lady. No problem for Mary, she came to the other side of the hill. Juan was trying to be cooperative but the bishop was not going to hear of it from him, without a sign. His suggestion to Mary was to engage someone for this job that was held in higher esteem. Mary would have none of it and knows what being poor and called, costs in life. We know the rest of the story and the Castillian roses held in his white garment that fell at the feet of the bishop. A beautiful basilica was eventually built on that site. More importantly, Mary is the mother of all peoples of the Americas. She has brought together humans that were at bloody odds with one another under the cloak of her love. We do not know what happened to Juan for the rest of his life but I feel confident that his life was never quite the same nor was his relationship to the Holy One.
The basilica of Guadalupe was the recent assembly of 1000 church leaders lay and religious, from Latin America and the Caribbean. This assembly called for “a more inclusive Church, one that pays attention to people’s realities, increased roles for women and excluded groups and combats clericalism.” The gospel, they reported, must be taken to the peripheries of society. Does this resonate with us? What a powerful message from this delegation that is part of the Synod that Pope Francis has called for in the entire church. This is a grace and a resolution proposed with vision and new life. Will this message be heard and acted upon as the Juan Diegos of today speak to the power structure? Our hope, my hope is that our many small, progressive, contemplative and outreaching communities will be messengers of God’s presence and action today in our life and world.
This Advent season, we are called amidst the turmoil, and unrest that swirls around us to live in hope and welcome transformation. Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah and Juan looked to their future not knowing what it would hold but quite sure that Emmanuel would be with them. We have the same assurance. Can we hear the words of Zephaniah: “Do not be afraid, my people. Do not be discouraged. God will take delight in you, calming and claiming you with love.” Be assured my friends in all of our miseries right now our God is with us. We must continue to make space in our hearts to welcome and hear the Holy One’s invitation. We are called to embrace the transformation in hope that will happen to us and for us.
Bishop Nancy Meyer
Today we are weaving together the joyful 3rd Sunday of Advent with the beautiful and important feast for all of us, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our CCL readings took the liberty of using the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth since it is only scheduled once in the three-year cycle of the Sunday lectionary.
As we consider Elizabeth and Zechariah and the pregnancy that ensued, known today as a geriatric pregnancy, must have put them in some confusion even as they accepted it. Mary, on the other hand, must have been mystified, uncertain and frightened with her particular situation. None of them, none of them knew what the future was going to hold with their acceptance of the call. Such uncertainty, the unknowing in a difficult political and social time. Their life path had been intersected by an “out of the blue” call from God that disrupted their lives. Each responded affirmatively and thus this call and response put them on a path of transformation. What they envisioned their life to be was radically changed. You are on a new path, is what the call from God meant for them. You are on a new path, now.
Their response to the Holy One came out of deep contemplation that led to their ability to say yes. There always seems to be a struggle with a call or experience from God that leads us to a future that we had never imagined. We all know how that works because we live our life in the reality of Emmanuel, God-with-us. How will this discernment unfold to do what the call from God is asking? How will it impact not only myself but everyone I love and care about? There are a gamut of thoughts, feelings and gut responses as we ponder the invitation that our God extends to us!
In another story we heard today, Juan Diego was interrupted on his journey by an appearance of Mary. He lived in the era after the Spanish conquest of the native peoples in Mexico and Central America. It was a difficult life and they were poor. Juan was an indigenous Native Mexican peasant and minding his own business. When Mary appeared to Juan she spoke in the language of the Aztecs. She wanted this poor man to go tell the bishop that she wanted a church build on the site that she appeared. This is where our story takes up this morning. When the bishop did not believe him, Juan decided to go around the hill on the other side so that he would not be visited by the Lady. No problem for Mary, she came to the other side of the hill. Juan was trying to be cooperative but the bishop was not going to hear of it from him, without a sign. His suggestion to Mary was to engage someone for this job that was held in higher esteem. Mary would have none of it and knows what being poor and called, costs in life. We know the rest of the story and the Castillian roses held in his white garment that fell at the feet of the bishop. A beautiful basilica was eventually built on that site. More importantly, Mary is the mother of all peoples of the Americas. She has brought together humans that were at bloody odds with one another under the cloak of her love. We do not know what happened to Juan for the rest of his life but I feel confident that his life was never quite the same nor was his relationship to the Holy One.
The basilica of Guadalupe was the recent assembly of 1000 church leaders lay and religious, from Latin America and the Caribbean. This assembly called for “a more inclusive Church, one that pays attention to people’s realities, increased roles for women and excluded groups and combats clericalism.” The gospel, they reported, must be taken to the peripheries of society. Does this resonate with us? What a powerful message from this delegation that is part of the Synod that Pope Francis has called for in the entire church. This is a grace and a resolution proposed with vision and new life. Will this message be heard and acted upon as the Juan Diegos of today speak to the power structure? Our hope, my hope is that our many small, progressive, contemplative and outreaching communities will be messengers of God’s presence and action today in our life and world.
This Advent season, we are called amidst the turmoil, and unrest that swirls around us to live in hope and welcome transformation. Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah and Juan looked to their future not knowing what it would hold but quite sure that Emmanuel would be with them. We have the same assurance. Can we hear the words of Zephaniah: “Do not be afraid, my people. Do not be discouraged. God will take delight in you, calming and claiming you with love.” Be assured my friends in all of our miseries right now our God is with us. We must continue to make space in our hearts to welcome and hear the Holy One’s invitation. We are called to embrace the transformation in hope that will happen to us and for us.
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