THE LITTLE  GUY – THE   LITTLE  GAL

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, ‘The Little Guy! The Little Gal.”

Today – December 12 - is the feast day  of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

We all know the New Testament question - Nathanael’s question - when he asks Philip about Jesus: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Answer: Yes. “Come and see!”  [John 1:43-51]  It’s Jesus the Messiah.

We can also ask that question of Mary – a young teenage girl out of the Nazareth – and the answer again is, “Yes!” Reread today’s gospel again: [Luke 26-38]

One study says Nazareth – not that far from the Lake of Galilee -  had about 400 people and one public bath at the time of Jesus.

JUAN DIEGO

Can anything good come out of Tepeyac – a hill close to present day Mexico City – but way back on the morning of December 9, 1531?

Answer: Yes. Juan Diego. I’m glad we go by that name instead of Cuahtlatoatzin – or “The Talking Eagle.”

Juan Diego was a native American – an indigenous person – who becomes the hero in the Guadalupe story.  He  ends up with an image of Mary on his tilma or outer robe – a poncho like garment.

And Mary appears with dark skin and Indian features – speaking in Nahuatl - his native language.

ANAWIM

We’ve all heard preachers talk about the “anawim.” That’s the Hebrew term for the poor slobs of the land.  The best explanation of the “anawim” I heard was from a preacher who talked about the bread flakes and particles that get stuck in the bottom of a toaster. That’s the anawim – the throw aways – the crumbs. And God spots them on the floor – on the bottom of the heap of history.

The “anawim” are central to understanding the Old Testament – especially the prophets – and their concern for folks.

JESUS – NO WALLS

We all know that Jesus didn’t accept  walls. He came through walls.  He reached out to all. He knew those who touched his garments. They were those with bad skin – those who were rejects – those who were looked down on: Samaritans, adulteres, sinners.

US AND THE LITTLE GUYS AND GALS

So, we Christians were brought up hearing about the little guy – the little gals – those who were not getting a good educational deal – a good life deal – women – the handicapped – the different oriented – the Matthew 25 folks.

The call is for churches to help and bring communion and community to all.

How many religious orders were founded for the purpose of the helping the Little Guy?  Study the charism statements of religious orders. They began to do something to help the neglected.  It was the immigrants, the poor, the sick? Check out the background of colleges, hospitals, orphanages, churches, food pantries.

I was listening to the congressional hearings last night. Those  who made it to congress – if their parents were the little guys or gals – they were proud to tell the listeners about their roots.

I too am proud that my mom cleaned hotels and houses in Boston and my dad never made over 100 dollars a week doing heavy lifting in Nabisco.

We religious are proud of our brothers and sisters who were there for the Little Guys and Little Gals.  My dad had 3 sisters who joined the Mercy Sisters in Portland Maine. Two died in their 20’s. Sister Mary Patrick made it to her 70’s working in the basement kitchen at the Mercy motherhouse. I’ve heard from Mercy Sisters about my dad’s sister.

We had a great St Vincent de Paul at St. Mary’s Parish in Annapolis Maryland.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily was: “The Little Guy! The Little Gal.”

Whatever room you enter check the edges of the crowd and the corners. We the Little Guy and Little Gal – we’re here.