“What I am looking for … is an immobile movement, something which would be equivalent of what is
called the eloquence of silence, or what St. John of the Cross, I think it was,
described with the term ‘mute music’.”
“I respect faith,
but doubt is what gets you an education.”
WilsonMizner
Thursday, December 12, 2019
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.
