Homily for 8 Sep 2015

8 Sep 2015

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We see here in the genealogy of Jesus a snapshot of a community of people; a family existing at various points in time.  Some of those names are “big,” like: Abraham, David, Solomon, and Jesse.  And many others aren’t, like: Hezron, Obed, Abijah, and Joram. 

Of course, Mary is kind of both; she’s a big name in that genealogy; and yet she’s one of the many humble and simple doers of God’s Word—many whose names have disappeared with time.  We celebrate today the birth of the Mother of Jesus and our own Blessed Mother.  But we also celebrate, in a way, the “living family tree” of Jesus: the Church. 

Of course, just like the genealogy we hear today, there are “big names” today in the Church; and there are a lot of other people who simply live quietly and do all the “little” everyday things that bring the peace of Christ to others.  And Jesus needs both kinds of people; the Church needs both kinds of people.

Some of us will do “mighty deeds.”  And most of us will do those everyday, “ordinary” works of faith, hope, and love.  But however we fit into the family tree of Jesus—the Church—we know that we each have a place there.  None of us is a mistake; God made each of us for a purpose.  We’re each made to be a part of the ongoing, living “family tree” of Jesus.

And whether we’re a “big” name in that genealogy, or a “small” name that’ll be forgotten someday, what matters is that God knows.  And what God pays attention to is our fidelity.  Simple fidelity to God is what builds up the family of God.  The birth of the Virgin Mary reminds us of that: simple fidelity to God is what builds up the family of God.