Roc Homily – Fourth Sunday Advent (Cycle C) 2015

Fourth Sunday Advent 2015 +December 20, 2015

Homily by Roc O’Connor, SJ, associate pastor at the Church of the Gesu

The gospel of Luke highlights the path of folly (pretense) and the path of wisdom for us. As with last week’s readings and homily, folly has to do with our charade or imaginings about being bigger than we are rather than right sized. That’s my story anyway.

The second of two Greek words (each translated, “blessed”) points to Mary’s connection to the path of wisdom, of being right sized. Which in turn, clarifies her Magnificat (below).

Happy; blessed = makarios

Luke 1:45 (NRSV) — 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

********Luke 6:20–22 (NRSV) — 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.

The Canticle of Mary

And Mary said:^* My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior who he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness [humiliation, distress, affliction];

Acts 8:31–33 (NRSV) — 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. (makarios)

Luke 1:48 (NRSV) — 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  God’s mercy is from age to age to those who fear him; who has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.  He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry God has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”