Homily

Jesus’ parents demonstrate their humanity by their struggle to understand the goings on about their son, Jesus. They worry, search, and Mary even scolds him. Neither Joseph nor Mary fully understand what was given to them by way of explanation by Jesus. They do all these things, yet Mary does one more thing that is very important. She remembers. We hear, “She kept all these things in her heart.” For her, it was a holy remembering of the mystery of God in her son, Jesus.

Memory is important. It is binds us together. It helps us learn. We remember significant events such as wedding anniversaries and celebrate them. Mass is a celebration of memory, a memory so potent that it transcends time. Yes, we believe that our memory, anamnesis in Greek, is so imbued with divine grace that the event of the Lord’s Supper, crucifixion, and resurrection are all made re-present to us in the Mass. We do not re-crucify Christ or intend to do so. Our memory with the presence of Jesus is powerful enough, we believe, to transform our lives.

Memory can also bring forth difficult, tragic, or horrific events. These memories can be so real and present that they, too, can change us. Some can sink us into the darkness of despair while others can motivate us to new resolutions to be different and better. The power latent in these memories can disable us and destroy our health of mind, body, and spirit.

As we come to the end of the calendar year, we automatically begin to look back and recall the events that shaped 2006. Some of them involve our work, others our friends, still others our families. Some may be global-shaping events that made the headlines. My question to us all is this: Are we thankful for it all? the good and the bad? It may seem crazy to be thankful for the bad things. It may very well be beyond our fallen nature to do so. But, we are not the sum of our fallenness. We proclaim Christ crucified, died, buried and rose again. With this proclamation, Paul encourages us to dedicate ourselves to thankfulness. Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel was so thankful for all God had given her, she gave her greatest gift to the Lord, her son Samuel.

Could we be thankful and grateful in the new year? If you are looking for a new year’s resolution, that would be a wonderful commitment. Let us search in our own hearts for a holy memory that may be hidden yet may very well help us to be people of thankful and grateful hearts.