MAGNIFICENT

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for today, December 22, is, “Magnificent.”

Since we have Mary’s Magnificat as today’s gospel, the word and the theme of magnificent hit me.

What would it be like to have an ink pad and one of those rubber stamps with the word, “MAGNIFICENT” on it?

What would it be like to go into Office Depot orStaples and ask to have such a rubber stamp made up with that word “MAGNIFICENT” on it.

I wonder if the person at the counter would be surprised. They would have seen and sold standard rubber stamps with words like “FRAGILE,” “SEND,” “APPROVED,” “REJECTED,” and “FYEO - For Your Eyes Only.”

But the word “MAGNIFICENT,” I don’t know if they would have that.

MARY IN HER MAGNIFICAT

Mary in her Magnificat stamps as magnificent the goodness of the Lord, the realization that the Lord spotted her - a lowly servant up there in the tiny village of Nazareth - that the Almighty has done great things for her, that God has shown mercy on those who fear him in every generation and on and on and on.

She rubber stamps God’s valuing the poor and God’s frustration with the rich and powerful who don’t do for the poor and the weak enough.

LOOKING AT OURSELVES

Looking at ourselves, looking at our neighbors, our parish and our world, what would we stamp as magnificent? Do this slowly and we might see moments we saw a beautiful sunrise or a forest of rich red Autumn leaves or the volunteers in the St. Vincent de Paul Society helping the poor.

We might stamp as a MAGNIFICENT moment seeing kids coming towards their Christmas presents on Christmas morning.

We might stamp as MAGNIFICENT being at marriages, baptisms, Thanksgiving dinners with a filled house - and anniversaries.

We might stamp as MAGNIFICENT a kid’s choir or an adult’s choir singing Christmas carols - or a mighty chorus singing Handel’s Messiah full blast.

We might stamp as MAGNIFICENT a funeral that was quiet, simple, sweet for a mom or a dad - or a big funeral like the one we had for Bernie Bernsten who was always here for this Tuesday morning 8 AM Mass.

I don’t know about stamping a big chocolate chip cookie in milk as MAGNIFICENT or a juicy pulled pork sandwich at Adam’s Ribs.  I don’t know about a team winning the National Championship, the World Series or the Super bowl or the Stanley Cup.

We have the mouth - we have the mind and the words - the eyes that see - and we could have an imaginary stamp to stamp anything we see as MAGNIFICENT. So it could be a great play - a great song  - a great meal - a great piano recital or violin solo - or a radical moment with God in prayer.

It could also be in French - MAG NI FIQUE - spoken with a hand gesture and with a kiss smack of the lips.

CONCLUSION

A test - some homework - a questionnaire:

Looking at our life, imagine yourself stamping 5 top moments from one’s life with the word “MAGNIFICENT” on it - especially moments that were full of grace - and the Lord was with us.

Looking at our life, with an imaginary rubber stamp, stamp the word "MAGNIFICENT" on 5 people who have been "MAGNIFICENT" to us and for us.