Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent



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Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent
(Dec 10, 2006)

intro: Luke’s Gospel says that John the Baptist was preaching Metanoia. This Greek word is usually translated “Repentance.” It implies a moral conversion to make God number one in your life. It can mean change of mind; turning your heart around or establishing a new Lordship in your life.

I would like to tell you a story about one such Metanoia or Conversion:
Story: A young Austrian had been drafted into the German army, which was invading Russia . One morning on the outskirts of a village the Commanding Officer called them together and said: “This morning we have been ordered to shoot the Jews.” When he asked for volunteers not one soldier stepped forward. The officer called them cowards and other names and then tried a different tactic. You don’t have to shoot them right away. You can first have your way with the women and take their valuables. Then you can shoot them. Then all the men volunteered, except for him, a Jesuit novice and a homosexual actor from Berlin .
This young Austrian wrote that after the other soldiers came back from their raping and killing of those innocent people, he could not stand to look at them or eat with them. Because he was a good skier he made a decision to volunteer for the dangerous northern front, where he stayed until the end of the war. This incident led him to a deep metanoia. After the war he became a doctor so that he could devote himself to healing people.
When someone has a deep conversion and give their allegiance to the Lord, they will move beyond self interest, to help show God’s love for all people.

II) Both the Native Americans and the Spaniards in Mexico were in need of conversion in 1531, when the Virgin of Guadalupe encountered Juan Diego.

A) Led by Cortez and church leaders, the Catholic Spaniards considered themselves God’s chosen ones, under the banner of the cross. They considered all Indians to be inferior and relegated them to nameless social status.

B) Juan Diego was a simple, hardworking and honorable member of the Nahuatl tribe. According to Father Virgil Elizondo the oppressed natives had ceased to believe in themselves and thought only the Spaniards could know and do things correctly. Juan exhibits this lowly view of himself when he asks the Lady why she is speaking to him, who is a “ lowly peasant, a nobody, a piece of rope…”

C) Mary begins the Conversion of Juan when she calls him: “My dignified son.” Juan Diego is not sent to get a message from the Bishop, but to tell the Bishop what to do.

OLG Image: Both the native Americans and the Spaniards are called to Metanoia, through Mary’s message and the lasting imprint of her image on the garment of Juan. This woman from heaven, clothed with sun appears not as a Spaniard, but as the brown skinned, brown-eyes La Morena. The ever Virgin, Holy Mary takes on the flesh and garment of a pregnant American Indian.

Mary told Juan Diego she will be the mother of all the inhabitants of these lands; and
Pope Juan Pablo II proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of all the Americas.

Conclusion: Clearly the Spaniards were no longer to be seen as superior to the Nahuatl or Aztecs, but as their brothers and sisters. This is a conversion – a Metanoia – a change of mind and heart that has a long ways to go in our Americas where too many people think of white skinned people as being more important or even more spiritual than darker skinned people.
We need to recognize that Christ came for the Salvation of all people.

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent (Dec 10, 2006)

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent
(Dec 10, 2006)