YEAR B: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Lk. 11:27-28) Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel a woman from the crowd praised the mother of Jesus. Jesus was sought well by the people because of His words and deeds. Giving credit to the one who gave birth and nursed Him was their was of expressing their high regard for Jesus. But Jesus again transcended the praise by pointing out that true blessedness comes from having heard the Word of Hod and on serving it. Motherhood maybe a great gift and task. However, unless it is lived in accordance with God’s Word, it has not attained it’s true greatness.

Today we anticipate the great Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. Having lived the Word of God after giving birth to the Lord Jesus, she deserved the grace uniting with her Son body and soul. Her witnessing purified her body and soul such they they are worthy of heaven. The grace of the Assumption should focus on the witnessing that led to it. The Assumption will overwhelm us. It has the tendency to lose its very reason. The fact of a faithfully lived life in accordance with God’s will makes possible the Assumption.

What comes to our minds when we see a trophy, medal, or certificate of recognition? Do we just savor their beauty and pride? Are we stuck with these symbols of achievements? Do we take for granted the perspiration, hard work, pains, and perseverance given in order to receive the award? These symbols try to appreciate and capture the whole experience of the awardee. But they could not replace them. It will be bad to just recognize the award.

In the same way, we look before and beyond the Assumption event. Mary was a good and faithful follower of Jesus. She did not only see herself as a mother. She was aware of her gift and task to be a living testimony of Jesus. She did not only dwell on her motherhood to be gifted with the Assumption. But she nurtured her motherhood with making the Word of God take flesh in her life. Like her Son Jesus, the Word made flesh, Mary gave meaning and flesh to God’s Word.