Chaplain, State of Ohio, Ancient Order of Hibernians
Chaplian's Homily
Dear Brother Hibernians:
The false springs of late autumn and early winter are now behind us, and we are definitely in the season of winter. After a great thanksgiving celebration, we find ourselves in the Season of Advent - the wonderful beginning of the Liturgical Year in the Church. Like the ancient Israelites, we use the 4 weeks of Advent to commemorate the wait of four hundred years for the coming of the Messiah. Soon we will be basking in the bountiful happiness of the Christmas Season – celebrating not only the coming of the Messiah, but His continuing presence among us, as He promised. One week after Christmas is the celebration of New Year’s, complete with parties and ‘auld lang syne.’ This a valuable and grace-filled time for our families.
This coming year of 2012 will be a big one for me: I’ll be 66 and eligible for social security retirement. However, please know that the retirement age for priests is 70 in the Diocese of Columbus, and in any case, I’ll be retiring from administration only, not the work of a priest! In other words, all the fun without all the headaches.
These past few weeks have been very stressful for us as a nation what with the economic instability in Europe and in our Country, and the continuing hardship of joblessness and economic insecurity for so many of our fellow citizens especially the poor and the elderly. The experts say that we’ll be in this for some time to come…I hope they’re wrong.
Another situation that’s been prominent is the ongoing scandal of child abuse at Penn State, Syracuse, and other places. We Catholics are no strangers to the shame and embarrassment such a situation brings to all of us. Often I have thought that if there is anything of good that has come out of the discovery of this crime it’s our recognition of the existence of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, something that enrages us and moves us to action on their behalf. All of you will agree that our children are our best hope for the future, and our most precious resource. It is up to us, the present adult generation, to do all we can to protect and help our young people grow into good citizens of the earthly city as well as good citizens of the Kingdom of God. Our awareness of the existence of the abuse of children should prompt us to further advocacy on behalf of all children and young people so that all forms of abuse will be eradicated for all children and for everyone else, too.
It goes without saying that the Seasons of Advent/Christmas focus our attention on the coming and birth of a precious child who came to us as our Savior. None of can fail to be deeply moved by the image of the helpless infant of Bethlehem, lovingly cared for by his Mother, Mary, and Foster Father, Joseph. Like all parents, they worried over the safety of their son, and tried their best to give him the best possible formation as a Jewish person; and for His trade, I’m sure that St. Joseph passed on to Jesus his knowledge and skill as a carpenter.
The Baby Jesus is enchanting. But we also remember that Jesus, as an adult, took on all of our sins and made it possible for us, with God’s grace, to be heroic and redeemed in service of God and neighbor. This gives us hope! We look to God to grant us the gift of peace, and comfort and strength in the realization that Christ is with us now and always.
Christmas Blessings and all the Best for the New Year,
Msgr. John K. Cody, Chaplain