4 Advent: December 19/20, 2020

​Hail Mary, full of grace.  The Lord is with you.  Blessed are you among women, and blest is the fruit of your womb:  Jesus.
          Meister Eckhart:  a 14th century German theologian and philosopher, once said:  “We are all meant to be mothers of God, for God is always needing to be born.”
          So how do we do that?  How do we, just as boldly as Mary------ say to God:  be it done to me according to your word – and bring forth the Savior into our world??
          To answer that, I first want to turn to a few paragraphs from the Vatican II document on the laity. . . and begin with the end in mind ---
the 2,305 Bishops who voted on this document on November 18, 1965 – stated: 
“The Blessed Virgin Mary is our true model of a Christian ---  as she lived a life animated by Christ.”
          How can we, like Mary, boldly say to God:  be it done to me according to your word--------  by living a life animated by Christ. . .  here is the Bishop’s explanation of how to do this:         [Paragraph 4]                         
          We must, as Christians, live a life of faith, hope, and charity.
          By living in faith, Christian people see Christ in all, whether neighbors or strangers, and make accurate decisions about the meaning and value in life.
          This leads to hope, because we are free from enslavement to wealth and able to choose those riches that lead to God’s kingdom.
          And the pinnacle of the Christian life is charity, by which Christians choose to do good to all and harm to no one.
          By living the true spirit of the Beatitudes, laypeople grow in a true sense of poverty:  which is neither sumptuousness nor destitution.
          They grow in a true sense of humility:  aware of their gifts but not seeking empty honors.
          They grow in their sense of justice:  leaving everything to pursue it with vigor.
          Whatever their lifestyle:  married, raising children, single, or widowed – and whatever their state in life – in good health or not, professional or laborer, private or social – all should live with the virtues of
          Honesty
          Justice
          Sincerity
          Kindness
          And courage.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is our true model of a Christian as she lived a life animated by Christ.
          Living a life of virtue.  Allowing God to establish a house within us – as God did in King David.  Allowing God to strengthen us according to the gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, as Paul challenges the Romans ---- this is how we say yes to God:  let it be done to me according to your word.
          This is how we become mothers of God – for God is always needing to be born. 
          This is how we fulfill the mandate given in the Document on the Laity:  Wherever they go, Christians announce Christ by their lives and witness.
          Hail Mary, Mother of God.  Pray for us sinners now – and at the hour of death.  AMEN!