“You Visit My Mother, I Remember Your Name”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
November 12 – 13, 2022
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, He said, 6 ‘All these things you are staring at now — the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed.’ 7 And they put to Him this question, ‘Master,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?’ 8 But He said, ‘Take care not to be deceived, because many will come using My name and saying, “I am the one” and “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. 9 And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.’ 10 Then He said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from Heaven. 12 ‘But before all this happens, you will be seized and persecuted; you will be handed over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors for the sake of My name 13 -and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Make up your minds not to prepare your defense, 15 because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. 17 You will be hated universally on account of My name, 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 Your perseverance will win you your lives.
I had a baptism on Saturday, and it was interesting because for the Spanish, the Godmother holds the baby. And this baby was not happy with the godmother. The baby was crying and pitching a fit and finally the mother had had enough and took the baby. It was like a light switch and the crying stopped. Everyone needs their mother.
When you study scripture, you realize that it does not include a lot of information. Scripture only includes that which is essential. It is very concise in the essential information it provides. It leaves out a lot of great and interesting information that inquiring minds want to know. But information that is not essential for salvation is left out. For instance, the last time we hear anything about Saint Joseph is when they found Jesus in the Temple when they were taking Him back to Nazareth. After that, Saint Joseph disappears from scripture, because he is not essential for the rest of the salvation story. We didn’t hear about who cleaned up after the Last Supper. Just like men….make a mess and leave. When Jesus fed the 5,000, who took the leftover fish? That is not important in the history of salvation, so it is left out of scripture. What is important are the words of Christ. They are there for our edification, our example, and our teaching.
We all have mothers, some of them better than others depending on your perspective. God, in His loving wisdom, gave us our spiritual mother at the foot of the Cross. “Son, behold your mother. Mother, behold your son.” He gave her to us all. The importance of the Blessed Mother is reflected in scripture. “Well, that’s not very ecumenical.” If you don’t know about the Blessed Mother, you don’t know scripture. If you have no love for the Blessed Mother, you don’t know scripture. Where did Saint Luke get the Gospel of Luke? He wasn’t there when the angel Gabriel showed up now was he? No. He had to hear it from Mary. Those were her words. In scripture, she is the only human being an archangel called “full of grace.” Later on in the Gospel of Luke, in her Magnificat, Mary proclaims that “all generations shall call me blessed.” That’s not a suggestion. For all those who have been in the military, that is a tasking. Call her blessed. In scripture, who interceded for the first miracle?
Now, people ask me for my prayers, and I do pray for them before and during Mass. I appreciate your having trust and faith in me as a priest to do that. But I am a very simple man. I’m an idiot – just ask the staff. But who better to intercede for you than the Mother of God? When I was a young priest, I met this older Italian gentleman up north who said, “Hey, Father you visit my mother, I remember your name.” Okay. When you visit a museum and look at a beautiful sunset in a work of art do you think, “Oh, God will get upset because I’m enjoying the beauty of His handiwork. I am taking away from the glory of God.” That’s not true. You are praising God Himself because He is made manifest in His works. The Blessed Mother was one of His works. We cannot create our own mother, but God did. Mothers always watch over you. When I came back from the Gulf War and was on my way to Korea, I took leave at home. One day, my mother asked me if I was going out, and I said that I was going to visit some friends from college. My mother said, “Okay. Wear your jacket.” Mom, I’m over 40 and I’m a combat veteran! But I said, “Yes, Mom.” Mothers always watch over us, but how much more so than our spiritual mother? She always wants the best for us. And what is the best for us? To be with her Son. Her last words in scripture are wonderful spiritual direction. “Do whatever He tells you.” You can’t get more concise than that now can you. That is not an implied tasking. That is an order. Many of you have probably prayed the great prayer by Saint Bernard: “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.” Even though many of us have prayed that prayer, most of us probably didn’t get the answer we wanted. I’m not a monsignor. What are we seeking in that prayer? We want consolation. Somehow, mom can make everything alright. I was called out to a house one night to give Last Rites to this woman. I gave her the Sacrament, and she said, “Father, I have my Rosary right here.” I said, “That’s great. Pray it as much as you can.” Because when the time comes for you to leave this world, Our Lady will come and take you by the hand and lead you to her Son.
How will you apply this message to your life? ______________________________________