There's Something About Miriam

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from December 11, 2005

"He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor." Is. 61:1

I WAS AT THE ANNUAL DINNER of VA Interfaith Center for Public Policy last week. I sat at a table with a Jewish representative from Richmond, named Miriam. To make conversation I shared; "I like your first name. My favorite sister back in Ireland is named Miriam." She was impressed that the Irish knew the Jewish name for Mary. I did not have the heart to to say that my mother chose it from the title of a book by Canon Sheehan [Miriam Lucas]. Yesterday I spoke to a Muslim student in our school, whose name is Marian. There are other variations, Muire, Maria, Marie. We all claim Mary as our own.

Then we have national titles: Our Lady of Chestajova, Poland, Marie de Lourdes, France, Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal, Our Lady of Knock, Ireland, La Virgin de Altagracia, Dominican Republic. On December the 12th Mary identifies with the indigenous people of Mexico under the title of La Guadelupana. On December the 8th The Immaculate Conception is feted as patroness of the Americas. However she especially belongs on the feast of La Purissima to Nicaragua. Last week at Benedict Hall the President of Nicaragua joined hundreds of other Nicaraguans, including our facilities director Marvin, for La Griteria. One shouts; "What is our reason for happiness?" the crowd roars; "The Immaculate Conception." While each tribe owns Mary, the readings from December 8 proclaim her as the New Eve of all people: the mother of a new humanity.

The psalm for this Sunday is the Magificat. Mary summarizes the prophetic tradition of Israel: "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away" Luke 1:53. This is not the compliant, docile female. She is as tough as any woman of St. Charles in her call to justice and equality. Latin Americans highlight this view of Mary when they sing to her "Maria de la lucha," Mary of the struggle for a better world.

Advent is a time for waiting and working for the Messianic times. Isaiah describes the healing, reconciling action that will give evidence of the coming Kingdom. There will be liberty and release for prisoners. Jesus chose these texts from the prophet for his first homily at the synagogue in Nazareth, his inaugural address. He would come as the Christ, the anointed Messiah who would fulfill the promise of a new creation here and hereafter. In the Gospel John refers back to the summons of the prophet, "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord."

This vision of a more equal world clashes with some current realities. Rev. Andrew Small in a current issue of America points to inequity. The 500 richest people on the planet own almost as much as the 500 million poorest, the 40 percent lower income of the world's population owns 5 percent of the earth's resources. Even more alarming, the gap is growing wider.

Fr. Small, an expert on the ethics of globalization, calls for a review of tariffs placed on products from poor countries and subsidies for agriculture by the rich nations. These barriers make it impossible for poor farmers to work their way out of poverty.

Here in Virginia those who work for minimum wages have not seen a raise in their income since 1997. Our two Catholic bishops have advocated for an increase in the minimum wage. If there were an added one dollar a year for three years, the income of a family of three would be brought up to the poverty level! Check our website for information on this effort.

While we prepare for Christmas let us take steps to work for a new creation. Let us apply to our contemporary situation the age-old prophetic promise of justice and equality. Let us heed the words of Isaiah, re-echoed by John and Mary and Jesus.

"Justice and peace shall kiss."