Homily for January 1, 2017

Homily for New Year’s Day

Mary the Mother of God

January 1, 2017

 

            Like most people, I try to make New Year’s Resolutions. January 1 seems to be a good time to reflect on life. Almost every year, my resolutions are about the same:

1. Eat healthier
2. Work out more
3. Drive more carefully (I’m a maniac on the roads)
   Every year around January 5 or 6, though, there is another tradition: the New Year’s Excuses.

1. Gosh, I’d love to eat healthier, but it would be a shame for these Christmas cookies to go to waste!
2. I wish I could work out more, but I’m too busy watching TV.
3. I would drive more carefully, but look at all those bad drivers! I have to defend myself on the streets of Stamford!
   And on it goes. I make excuses for things that are hard, that take work, even though I know in the long run it will benefit me.
               And isn’t that the same way with our spiritual life? We make a resolution to work on a relationship with God, then we make excuses why we can’t pray. We make a resolution to be kinder to others, but gosh that person is so annoying! We find a million reasons why we can’t be saints: I’m too young, I’m too old, I’m too busy, I’m retired, I’ll work on it later.
               But we CAN become saints and God wants to do that in us – if we’re willing to give up the excuses!
               This reminds me of one of my favorite saints – an obscure saint named St. Hyacintha Mariscotti. She was an Italian woman who, in her teen years, was profoundly worldly and vain. She spent copious amounts of time on her hair, wore only the finest clothes and jewelry, and went to parties so she could gossip about the boys.
               In particular, she had her eyes set on one particular young man. This fellow kept coming around to her family’s estate, spending time with the family, and she was sure that it was because he was in love with her. Finally, the day came when she was sure he was going to ask to court her. He went in to have a private chat with her parents, and when they came out, the parents excitedly announced that the young man wanted to court…Hyacintha’s younger sister!
               Utterly devastated, she decided to become a nun. She joined a convent, but did not give up her worldly ways. She made her habit out of the finest, most expensive material. Instead of fasting, she secretly hid snacks and treats in her room so she could eat as much as she wanted. Instead of prayer and penance, she often socialized with friends from back home. She was truly a source of scandal to her fellow sisters.
               But God had mercy on her, and she was struck with an illness so severe that she feared she was dying. She called for a priest, and when he came, he took one look around her cell – the expensive habit, the stockpile of food – and was horrified. He called upon her to repent, to rid herself of her worldly, lukewarm, duplicitous ways. Choose Christ or choose the world!, he said.
               She was cut to the heart. Upon recovering from her illness, she gave away her expensive garments and wore rags; she gave away her food and fasted strictly; she spent long hours in prayer and works of charity. Throwing away her excuses, she gave herself completely to God – and in the process, became a saint!
               God wants to do the same thing in you! Throw away those excuses. Make resolutions, and keep them unwaveringly – resolutions to start reading Scripture or spiritual books; to spend time in prayer daily; to start volunteering more or serving others more. Practical, do-able steps – and if we don’t give up, God will do the rest. If we mess up and skip our prayer time or snap at someone, we don’t make excuses for our behavior – we confess our sin and return to the path of holiness.
               Long enough have we been making excuses for not becoming a saint. He wants to make you one! When next New Year’s rolls around, I pray that we are holier and closer to God – because otherwise, we will merely be one year closer to death with nothing to show for it. God will make you a saint – if you get rid of excuses and start to live for Him alone!