This morning’s Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr. Chris Martin, honored Mary: Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We are truly grateful for the 50+ priests who joined Fr. Martin, as well as the Carmelite religious sisters who have a special devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
The Homily
Like Mary, we need to be courageous and fearless in the face of the challenges in our lives and world, as Fr. Martin reminded us. When you get to the heart of every problem, the ultimate answer is Jesus Christ – the One who created us so that we may have life and have it to the full. In Mary, we have the perfect model of ultimate trust in God’s plan and love for her.
Mary shows us that we can’t fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts with anything other than God. We can’t fill it with even the best the world has to offer although we often try. While God can and does bless us through these things, they are meant to be signs of His love, not a replacement for it. His love can’t be bought or earned by anyone, because it is a free gift.
How do we respond to God’s love? Again, we look to Mary: with a courageous love and trust in Him, because the only gift Jesus wants is our heart!
The Magnificat
For He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.
He has shown the strength of his arm. He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel for he has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
Living the Message
Fr. Martin concluded his homily with a few action tips for living the message of the Gospel and the example of Mary.
1.) Turn away from false worship, and embrace the most vital thing: Jesus.
2.) Enter into an on-going, deepening relationship with Jesus.
3.) Be a living witness to the Truth that fills us and sets us free!
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