Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
The Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 18, 2011
Many of you know that I recently returned from Rome, where I spent almost two weeks with the Bishops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey for our ad limina visit. Every five years, bishops from around the world visit Rome and offer something of a status report of their dioceses to various departments and offices of the Holy See and ultimately to the Holy Father himself. Needless to say, my visit with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI was the highlight of this journey.
Much to my surprise, however, when I met with the Holy Father along with several of the other bishops of Pennsylvania, he surprised us by pointing to each one of us, in turn, and asking us to offer our perspectives on the life and ministry of the Church in our dioceses, to raise concerns and to offer any insights that we might have. Suddenly, the feelings that surfaced within me were familiar even if long forgotten – the feelings that I had as a student in the seminary – in college – and even in grade school, when I would be reasonably prepared for class yet not quite confident enough to raise my hand to volunteer an answer. We all remember those days, don’t we? Our hand may not have been raised, but the teacher called on us nonetheless. … And there I sat, with the chief shepherd of the universal Church – the Vicar of Christ on earth – calling upon me. Suffice it to say, God’s grace carried me through that moment.
Our faith tradition is replete with stories of individuals being called upon by God – being asked to do things that they just didn’t want to do or feel equipped to embrace.
Moses wasn’t too enthused to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and the grip of Pharaoh. He gave the excuse that he couldn’t speak well.
Jonah didn’t want to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. He didn’t find them to be worthy of such a message and opportunity. So he set sail on a ship going in the opposite direction of Nineveh. The ship encountered a storm, Jonah was tossed overboard, swallowed up by a great fish, and spewed out on the shores of – Nineveh, the last place he wanted to be.
And in today’s gospel, God begins the story of Christmas – the Christ event – with Mary, a simple Jewish girl who is at the very bottom of her society’s social ladder. Listen to how Mary responds to God’s invitation to participate in the birth of salvation. The angel proclaims the most encouraging and affirming words recorded in the scriptures, “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
And in response to these incredible words, we’re told by the scripture writer that Mary was deeply troubled and wondered what the angel’s greeting meant. “How can this be since I do not know man.?” … The God who created all things makes the fulfillment of his promise dependent upon one of the most dispossessed and powerless of his creatures.
And God has continued to call people to assume awesome, unbelievable and overwhelming responsibilities – to perform tasks for which they feel ill equipped. Interestingly, most of the people chosen by God for difficult tasks are ordinary individuals – like me and you. The invitations to most of them have elicited familiar responses, “Why me?” “I’m too young.” “I’m too old.” “I’m not ready.” These formal “annunciations” aren’t only made to Mary and other heroic, saintly figures from the Bible. The fact is that God calls every one of us to some work that will proclaim his life and his love in our midst – to some work that will contribute to the proclamation of the Gospel message of his Son – and Mary’s Son – Jesus.
What is the work that God is calling you to assume?
Moses was called to lead his people with justice and integrity. Some of us have been called to leadership roles – in the Church, as a bishop – in our community in roles of public service – in our place of employment – in our homes, as a parent or care-giver.
Jonah was called to preach repentance and change to a people in need of direction in their lives. Many of us are called to speak the truth and to challenge others – in spite of our own weaknesses and limitations – to grow, to be better, and to change. Sometimes God calls us to preach this to a congregation – and sometimes he challenges us to preach it to our spouse or our son or daughter.
Mary was called by God to give birth to a child – to raise him – and to let him go according to God’s plan. So many of you know that invitation well – as you’ve raised your children – as you’ve attempted to teach them well – and as you’ve let them go to find their way, hopefully according to God’s plan and your prayer.
In life we are called by God to respond in so many ways to so many different and challenging situations. Just like it was when we were called upon in school – just like it was for Mary – we may be afraid. We may be confused. We may be troubled by the request. We may think of all kinds of reasons why the invitation doesn’t make sense or the task is beyond us – but it is in these every day annunciations that God changes the course of history … at least our chapter in that history.
God calls us to bring Jesus into our time and place – whereever we are, in whatever situation and circumstance we find ourselves. May we embrace in our lives, with hope, the same words spoken by the angel to Mary, “Do not be afraid.” And may we respond with the same faith and trust exemplified by Mary, putting aside our own doubts and fears, and echoing her words, “I am your servant, O God. Let it be done to me as you say.”
