Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A month from this evening we shall be in the Octave of the Nativity, joyfully contemplating the great mystery of the Incarnation, the great moment in history when God the Son, Second Person of the Holy Trinity became man to bring salvation throught his death, resurrection.
In the Old Testament there are not many texts where God is called Father and in early ones where God is mentioned as Father, He is Father of the people as a whole. The first reference to God as Father of the individual is the Lord's promise to David: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me." (Sir 23:1)
In the New Testament Christ frequently refers to God as his Father. In Matthew's Gospel, for example, in chapter six Jesus calls God his Father twelve times. In Luke's Gospel the first and last recorded words of Christ make mention of God as His Father: "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Lk 2:49) And on the cross before He died, Jesus cried out: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." (Lk 23:46) In the Scriptures it is explicitly stated that Christ came to do His Father's Will. In John's Gospel Jesus tells us: "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work." (Jn 4:34)
Christ brought to all men the "Good News". The Apostles preached the Good News and the Church through the centuries has constantly with zeal continued what the Apostoles started What is this Good News that Christ brought, that the angels mentioned to the shepherds at Bethlehem? Why is it called "news? and why is "good news"? It is news because what was revealed by Christ had been hidden from the foundation of the world. It is good news because it revealed the infinite goodness of God and because through Christ our fallen human race has been given the benefits of divine grace. It can be found summed up in two statements in John's first letter:"We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us" (1 Jn 4:16) And also in the same chapter we read: "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us." (1 Jn 4:19)
St Paul wrote that "the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Rom 5:5) And it is the same love which the Father has always for the Son (Jn 17:26) And as a result we become children of God. But if we are to return love for love, to be brothers and sisters, we must keep His Commandements. We must also do the Will of our Father - as we say in the prayer given to us by Christ: .".... thy Will be done." How can we say this prayer, rejoicing in the Good News, and not give our hearts to keeping God's Commandments, doing His Will, seeking to please God, knowing full well that we have been made children of God in baptism?
In 1948 Aloysius C. Galvin responded to Christ's invitation to join Him in bringing the Good News of God's love to all men and women. He entered the Society of Jesus and in the first two years of his religious training he profoundly strengthened that decision to be a companion of Christ and to go wherever and to do whatever God wanted as made known to him through his religious superior. He was a man of strong will. Anyone who knew him realized that Fr. Galvin had the kind of toughness of spirit and will which we read about in St. Ignatius Loyola. His whole life in the Society of Jesus has been one clear determination to do God's Will. From the moment he decided that he would devote his life to making known God's love to all men and women, from that moment he was single- minded. His time, his energy, his zeal, his intellectual talents, his personal warmth and generous heart was governed by the goal Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, for the greater glory of God. Like Christ Fr. Galvin's heart was open to all those he taught, to any and all who needed a few words of advice or encouragement or to those with serious needs or problems. He carried God's love to all with whom he lived and worked. Because of his single-mindedness he could say with Christ: "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work." (Jn 4:34)
We read in the Gospel this evening Christ's promise: "I myself am the living bread come down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he shall live forever; the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world" (Jn 6:51-58) Christ offered Himself to the Father in the Spirit for the salvation of mankind. It took place once historically on Calvary. Christ was both priest who offered and victim who was offered. And though He is present in heaven as our high priest and our offering for sin, in the Eucharist it is the same Sacrifice of Christ that takes place sacramentally on the altar tonight. The "work of our redemption is accomplished" through His Eucharistc offering and the fruits of Christ's Sacrifice are applied to us here and now.
Our desire and expectation of eternal life is in our hearts because we trust in Christ's promises that we read in the Gospel this evening and on the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Fr. Galvin's love for Christ in the Eucharist and his devotion to the Eucharist was profound. In our world when so many people no longer believe and are misled, when people do not deeply realize the astounding gift which Christ has left to His followers by making His Body and Blood sacramentally present so that we may grow in holiness and attain eternal life, Fr. Galvin was concerned that students should keep clearly in their minds that in Holy Communion they were receiving the actual Body and Blood of Christ. Because of this as chaplain he wrote a prayer for the football team which they recited after Mass which they attended before each game. Fr. Galvln wanted the students to state in prayer that they understood that the gift they were receiving was, indeed, Christ Himself.
We cannot know what God first communicated to Fr. Galvin when he entered into eternal life, but surely the same words that He addressed to Christ during His life on earth, would be most appropriate: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Mk 1:11)
Wish, you had a habit of giving a little tap on the shoulder of your students with you big fist and saying: "Love ya." We now say to you: "Love ya."