THE ONE SERMON OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

For the Third Sunday after the Epiphany

John 2:1-11

Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Short and to the point, the Blessed Virgin Mary preached her only sermon. It is a classic. But, many modern Christians confuse what Jesus tells us to do with the instructions that come from the world, the flesh and the devil.

For example, many modern American Christians attend seminars or study teaching on how to become “leaders.” The great emphasis on leadership has been attracting Christians for over thirty years now. Everyone wants to be a leader.

But, Jesus said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  (Matt. 20:25-28)

For another example, in the great parable of the Sheep and the Goats before the throne of  judgment (Matt. 25:31-46), our Lord told us how to treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison; indeed, to treat each one of the least of these as we would treat the Lord Jesus Himself. He tells us that He will take personally how we treat each one of the least of these, and that it will be the criteria for the final judgment. But, we ignore Jesus in ignoring them. We think the Final Judgment will be a final exam in theology, or about whether or not you have been in the Onest and Truest of the all the One True Churches.

Meanwhile, desperate asylum seekers are imprisoned as if they were all dangerous criminals at the border of our country, and their children are taken away. The poor in our country are denied healthcare and medicine. Children are murdered in the womb for convenience as a big business with lots of profit. Poor people face greater danger of incarceration due to corporate (for profit) prisons that corrupt the legal system. Great amounts of American wealth go to the weapons industry, providing such countries as Saudi Arabia the means to commit mass murder of noncombatants. I am glad that many American Christians are concerned about one of those categories  (the child in the womb). But, it is wrong that they merrily accept and even enable the evils done to those others, endorsing and parroting rationalizations that dehumanize so many ones among the least of these His brethren – His brethren by means of His Incarnation; “The Word was made flesh.” (John 1:14)  

Furthermore, when the poor and destitute call churches, or ask Christians for help, many merely provide rationalizations, worthy of the most greedy Libertarians, to silence the voice of the Lord in their consciences. Instead of being concerned about those who suffer needlessly and face premature death from poverty, they concern themselves only with their own advantages. The world, the flesh and the devil have arguments to provide rationalization. But what did Jesus say?

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matt. 6:42)

For another example, Jesus told us to patiently suffer the persecution of an unbelieving world.

“…they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.  And it shall turn to you for a testimony.  Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:12-19)

But, many modern American Christians are sure that they know better than Jesus. They embrace and support political strength as a means to be delivered from the cost of taking up the cross to follow Christ as His disciples. In choosing political power to this end, many of them have been deceived already. This is why their love is waxing cold in the face of Christ among us as hungry, thirsty, a stranger, sick or in prison. Especially, many choose to hate the stranger because they have swallowed the political propaganda of fear.

“Perfect love casteth out fear.” (I John 4:18)

“Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deut. 10:19)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (II Cor. 13:5)

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

As the Blessed Virgin Mary said in her one and only, and very profound, sermon: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”