Homily for Monday, 22 December 2014– Ferial

Monday of the 4th Week in Advent

Readings of the day: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Responsorial Canticle: 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd; Luke 1:46-56

What does it mean to be “dedicated to the LORD”? Today we hear in our readings of two people, Samuel the son of Hannah and then the Blessed Virgin Mary in Luke’s Gospel, who are “dedicated to the LORD.”

Hannah leaves her son Samuel in the care of Eli. Samuel is now at Eli’s service, but more importantly, is at God’s service. Unlike Samuel who is “dedicated to” God by another person, Hannah, in our Gospel reading Mary once again dedicates herself to God. This time, Mary dedicates herself to God by a beautiful hymn, the Magnificat, which we members of religious orders, priests, and many laypeople recite every day at Evening Prayer: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior…”

We, too, are dedicated to God. Through our baptism, most of us were dedicated to God’s service by our parents and godparents, unless we were baptized as older children or adults, in which case we professed our faith for ourselves. At our confirmation, we dedicated ourselves; chose to commit ourselves to God’s service as Christian disciples.

Have we ever, then, thought to make Hannah’s prayer in dedicating Samuel to God, or Mary’s prayer of dedication of herself to God our own prayer? Hannah says, as she leaves Samuel with Eli: “I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD… Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD.” And Mary prays, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

These are prayers of dedication to God, but also prayers of gratitude. How often do we pray in joyful gratitude for our having been placed at God’s service in whatever way; by whatever vocation we are called to serve God: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior”?

How often do we pray in gratitude especially for God’s mercy in our lives, which is also an invitation to be merciful ourselves: God “has mercy on those who fear him in every generation… For he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” This may be a good prayer to pray when we make our examination of conscience (for many of us, this is daily), or when we have been absolved of sin through the sacrament of reconciliation.

Our Advent is a time of anticipation of Christ’s return in glory; a time of joy in these last few days before our Christmas celebration. May it also be a time of gratitude; of renewing our commitment to God’s service in whatever vocation to which we are called. May we offer the prayer of dedication that Hannah once did, standing in this house of God, “praying to the LORD.” This day and every day, may we offer Mary’s prayer of gratitude; make her prayer of dedication our own Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”