Incarnation Enables Divine Love for Neighbors – Dec 22 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 22, 2025, where he explores how the Incarnation allows us to love as God loves, exemplified by Mary's jealousy-free service to Elizabeth in the Visitation.

In this homily, Father explains that because God is love and became man, we can now love God and our neighbors in a divine way, just as Jesus commanded: "love one another as I have loved you." He focuses on the Gospel's Visitation, where Mary, pregnant with God, hurries to serve her relative Elizabeth without any jealousy, even though she received greater graces. Mary's love is pure and joyful; she accepts God's providence happily for herself and others. Father points out how we often struggle with jealousy and pride, expecting service when we have more, but Mary shows the opposite—she uses her gifts to serve those with less. True love, as St. Paul describes, isn't jealous or self-seeking. Through Mary's help, we can ask God for this full love made possible by the Incarnation.

Visitation Gospel - Mary visits Elizabeth joyfully - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?39
John 13:34 - Command to love as Christ loves - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?34
Luke 1:38 - Mary's fiat of acceptance - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?38
1 Corinthians 13 - Love is patient and kind - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13
CCC 494 - Mary's divine motherhood grace - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/494.htm
CCC 971 - Mary's intercession and mediation - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/971.htm
CCC 1822 - Charity as theological virtue - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1822.htm
Franciscan Media - Visitation Feast Day - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/visitation-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/
Catholic Answers - Mary's Role in Salvation - https://www.catholic.com/tract/mary-mother-of-god
Ave Maria!

Mass: Weekdays of Advent - Dec 22
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122225.cfm
1st: 1sa 1:24-28
Resp: 1sa 2:1, 4-8
Gsp: luk 1:46-56

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1333

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