Homily Notes Fourth Sunday of Advent

Notes for Homily on 4th Sunday of Advent

“Listening to Angels”

No one has to tell us that we have a lot of turmoil in our world right now. Doesn’t it seem like there is a fundamental shift going on? We might feel like old values are being questioned. New ones are taking their place.

During all this change, there is an expression that seems to come up often as people try to make choices. The phrase reflects a belief that goodness is a stronger than evil. The idea that leaders have spoken about in regards to this whether they be religious or not is that as we decide between alternatives we need to “listen to their better angels.” Now this is not a new concept. Leaders have stated this throughout the centuries.

One of the most famous examples of someone using this saying Abraham Lincoln. He uttered the words during his first inaugural address. As he spoke to a nation that found itself on the brink of a civil war. He tried to appeal to the basic goodness of people. His heart was heavy as he saw how people were reacting to his presidency. He said the following at the end of his speech:

“I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart all over the land, will yet save the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely, as we will be, by “the better angels of our nature.”

Another time this concept was used was in the play entitled, “The Tragedy of the Lady Jane Grey.” The play was written by Nicholas Rowe in 1715 after a time of turmoil in the British Empire. A century before monarchs had fought for control of the throne of England. Amid the struggle, Jane Gray became queen for nine days. She was arrested. Later she was executed. The Earl of Pembroke, in the play, makes a speech trying to save her life. He utters these lines.

“Surely our better Angels called me here. For this is friendship’s heir and friendship’s office. To come when called and when help is wanting, to share the pain of every growing care. To speak comfort in time of trouble. To reach out a hand, and save those in adversity. To choose struggle over successes.” Many other examples could be sited.

As we hear, the story of St. Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew this third Sunday of Advent we cannot help but think of the idea of listening to our better angels. Joseph is called a just man in the scriptures. He is a just man who must choose a course of action. His fiancé is pregnant. Joseph must have assumed that this happened because Mary had an affair with another man. The law was clear. He had the right to turn Mary out in the street. He could divorce her. He could have even turned her over to the authorities to have her stoned to death. On the other hand, he could keep the affair quiet and accept the illegitimate child. He is pulled in two directions. As a just man, he can follow the law. He can also, show mercy. He must have been hurting and confused. He could have reacted in anger. But what happens?

An angel comes to Joseph in his dreams. An angel sent by God. Perhaps this angel can represent the better angel in every one of us. What does the angel say? “Show mercy Joseph.” How does Joseph show his righteousness? By listening to the better angel of his nature.

What does this tell us about our faith? Joseph’s story is, oh, so important! In 1870 St. Joseph was declared the Patron of the Universal Church by Pius IX. We as a church and as individuals are to rely on his example. As religious people, we often concentrate on the rules, regulations, law. Maybe we have them in our family life. All these guidelines are necessary to steer us, but we are led back to a question, “How we are to apply them.” Do we error on the side of strictness? Or, do we allow for mercy? Pope Pius IX looked to the experience of St. Joseph. He believed we are to show compassion. We are to trust that charity is the road to true holiness.

If people would have paid attention to their better angels in the past a civil war would have been avoided, a queen would not have been executed. Many other great tragedies could have been prevented from wars, to genocide, to slavery. Small tragedies in our individual lives could have been avoided as well. How often do we choose to sin when we could choose the righteous path? Angels are being sent our way. Angels are all around. We see good angels in the people that we meet, we dream of them at night. Angels whisper in our ears from the spiritual realm. Sometimes they scream at us. Our Advent question today is. Are we listening? Are we listening?

Rough draft, grammar may not be perfect.