Mass at George Maher House, Clifton Hill

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at George Maher House, Clifton Hill,
on Tuesday, 20th December, 2005, at 11.30am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With joy today we hear the angel’s message to Mary, “The Lord is with you”.  Through her puzzlement Mary responds, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.  Let what you have said be done to me.”

As we celebrate this Mass in longing for the coming of Christ at Christmas and for his grace in our hearts and those of people we love, let us call to mind our sins, that through Mary’s giving we will respond and grow.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The angel came to Mary.  Everything happens in silence, in recollectedness and in reflection about mystery.  God has come among people in a peaceful house, unknown to tourists.  Gabriel has left the temple to announce the birth of God among the people of David, known only to him.

Since that time God has made a habit of this.  His infinite mystery can only be expressed in a house of silence.  The good news that those whom he has sent have brought to us and the fruits that his spirit causes to grow in us can only be understood if we are recollected.  Mary, disconcerted, says, “How can a humble servant be the mother of the eternal king?”  The words of God make us fearful if we are silent.  They are words of truth and become a reality because of the total giving and inner recollectedness of a young woman who suddenly finds herself fruitful.

Like a morning breeze the Holy Spirit takes hold of her and in a mystery that cannot be known the power of God covers her with its shadow, so that the body of the Son of God can develop within the fragility of that human being.

From that time on Mary’s silence was to become acceptance, obedience and faith.  She was to let God grow within her and bring to it the only form of sharing that God can really bless; total faith, humble and full of joy.

As we ponder the wonder of Christmas, we know that God entrusted his Word to the one who liked silence enough to avoid identifying it with talk.  God needs our silence because he wants to make what is impossible a reality for us.  Shall we be as recollected as Mary when she said, “Let what you have said be done to me”?

Blessed are you Lord in the honour of the Virgin Mary,
For her silence welcomed the immensity of your Word.
Your Spirit made a covenant with her
And in her heart she conceived the One who contained the universe.
Available to the mystery that you had prepared for centuries,
She handed over her life to serve your Word.
That is why our hearts are full of joy and cheerfulness
In your presence God – you who exalt the lowly –
And why we bless you forever.
Emmanuel, God with us, Jesus our Saviour, be with us Lord!
Son of David and Son of Mary, be with us Lord!
Rising Son, dawn of peace, seed of justice, be with us Lord!
God our Saviour, we bless you!

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.