Why this homily matters?
Think of a popstar you like and being at their concert. How would your experience change if you were to be called on stage? Now, similarly, think of mass and how you are impacted by your attendance. If you are not profoundly changed by your encounter with Jesus, then you are doing something wrong. The key is your sacrifice for love of God. Just like the Magi, you must go home by a different road.
Key Points
Being in a special location is very attractive. For example, think about that special vacation spot with the beautiful sunset. Or think of that concert with the super popular artist. Our society assigns much value in being in the right location at the right time.
And yet, being there is far different than doing something at that special location. What if you could climb that mountain instead of just viewing it from afar. Or singing on stage versus just being in the audience.
Both experiences are valuable. We should not minimize the value of either. One could say, we are not human doings but rather human beings. But God made us to do things – to create, to build, to fix things, to work … But the biggest thing he made us to do is to love. To love is at the heart of God’s identity and ours. We can be in love and that is a gift. But to choose to love is equally special.
Let’s be clear about what love is. Love is willing the good of the other. It is not just a romantic feeling or feelings of affection. We are choosing to do something, We are choosing to will the good of the other person. This is how we love.
We are made to love God. But how exactly do we love God, especially if God does not need our love?
3 Ways for Demonstrating Our Love for God
We can love God by
- As St John said, loving our neighbors.
- Obeying his commandments.
- By worshiping God as he has asked us to do.
Worship and Sacrifice as a Demonstration of Love
The heart of any religion is not a creed or our moral life but it is worship. This worship is what we are giving to God. It is not feelings but sacrifice. We must sacrifice.
Take the example of the Magi as they journeyed to see Jesus. Their travel during ancient times was no small matter. The Magi sacrifice their potential safety, their time and economic resources in making the journey. Their gifts too were significant. Gold as a sign of His kingship. Frankincense a sign of Him as a priest. And finally myrrh as a sign of His eventual death and sacrifice.
Since the pandemic many people have stayed or reduced their attendance at mass. Fr Mike was being interviewed by a reporter who commented that this was wrong. From this reporter’s point of view the point of the mass was to receive the Eucharist. The Eucharist is very important. But Fr Mike told him however that the purpose of the mass was to offer the sacrifice of Jesus to the Father. This sacrifice marks our love of God. The point of our life is to love God. So we should be attending mass as often as possible. In so doing, our lives are demonstrating our love of God.
This feast of Epiphany itself is about worship and sacrifice.
We must recognize that we do not love God if we are staying away from mass and from its sacrifice.
Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me.”
Are You Leaving Mass Unchanged?
Do we show up to mass and leave unchanged? The mass is supposed to make all the difference in the world but it does not even make a difference in our lives. Did we expect that anything should change?
How could we come into contact with God and not be somewhat changed? After paying homage to Jesus, the Magi departed for their home by another road. Saints and theologians throughout the centuries have interpreted this detail. The way we come to the Lord is not the way to approach life after we have met him. We worshiped him and it changed us.
Why do we leave unchanged at Mass?
Fr Mike offers two reasons:
We are missing that we are at Mass to sacrifice. We are supposed to be offering the sacrifice together. It’s not just the priest but the whole congregation. Seeing the Grand Canyon is one thing. But hike it and the experience is vastly different. Going to a concert is one thing. But to go on stage and participate in singing is an entirely different experience. The same thing is true at Mass. We are not here to watch but to offer up the sacrifice together.
Remember the three gifts. Jesus is not only the priest that offers the sacrifice, he is the sacrifice. And so are we! During the Eucharistic prayer, we say, “Lord, make of us an eternal offering to you. Make of us an eternal oblation to you.” Let our lives be a gift. If we go to mass and come back unchanged, it is likely because we did not offer anything. I did not give him anything.
- Did I confide in him what is making me afraid in my life?
- Did I give Him what I love?
- Did I give God access to my hopes or to my weaknesses?
Being Part of the Sacrifice
I did not give up anything and I showed up and watched. We were not baptized to show up and watch. God did not send his Son in human form for you to show up to Mass and watch it. He did not die and rise from the dead and send the Holy Spirit into our lives so we could show up to Mass and watch.
He did those things so we could be part of the sacrifice. Consequently, we can unite our lives and our sacrifices to His life and sacrifice as a demonstration of our love. He did this so that every time we approached him we would be changed. Every time we walked into the Church, we would offer the sacrifice with the priest and with Jesus Himself. Every time, we would be different and more like him. And we could never return to our home the same way. In conclusion, we go back home by a different way.
Suggested Homily
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-8-23-here-to-give/id273537688?i=1000592982810
Scripture References
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12