29 January 2009

York Minster

If you take my word to heart, you will discover the knowledge of God. Like the earthenware jar you will bring the glory of the face of Christ to many and then you will be happy, you will be blessed, even though some will consider you poor and of little consequence. Indeed you can rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
The true disciple listens, the true disciple, like Mary, the Mother of the Lord, listens, ponders and treasures the word. The true disciple of the Lord is obedient to the word and lives according to and under the word of God; so much so that the word of God can be witnessed not just from their mouths, but through their very life. Again, like Mary, the Mother of the Lord, the word so fills true disciples that they are literally pregnant with the word and bring that word forth in the fruit of their lives.
The Word of God brings to us the knowledge of God’s glory; it reveals to us the glory of the face of Christ. Through his word, God reveals himself to us. He fills our emptiness, he lifts up our lowliness, he heals our brokenness and gives us confident security in our hopelessness. Poor as we are like the earthenware jar we carry a great treasure placed there through the action of the Lord himself. It is not of our doing but from God.
Like a true disciple Mary Ward listened, pondered, treasured and responded to God’s word. In season and out of season she allowed that word of God to fill her and she brought it forth in the fruitful obedience of her life. So transparent was this particular fragile vessel that many were able to see and share in the treasure that she carried.
Mary Ward found her joy and happiness in serving her Lord, listening to his word, carrying to others his treasure, but not without difficulties and trials. If I may quote from the sermon preached in St Mary Major’s Basilica on 23rd January 1985 by the then Cardinal Ratzinger at the Mass to commemorate the fourth centenary of Mary Ward’s birth: Even when she saw her work destroyed by the authority of the Church she remained obedient, remained, in a rebellious age, firmly anchored in the Catholic Church. Such is the hope and patience of the saints; they sow in the field of the Church not for a brief personal success but for the age to come. The Church caused Mary Ward great suffering, but at the same time, the Church was for her, her surest consolation and peace, the ground of all ages, the guarantee of the truth of the promise: one sows and another reaps.
So of her we can surely say: You took the word of the Lord to heart and discovered the knowledge of God. Like the earthenware jar you brought the glory of the face of Christ to many. Indeed then you are blessed, you are happy, happy are you who are poor, who are gentle, who mourn and who hunger and thirst for right….rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven.
In the power of the Spirit, to God be the greatest glory, in this age, and in ages to come, through the name of Jesus. Amen