Weekly HOMILY for January 1, 2007: Bells: a Sign of Hope for the New Year

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Cycle C
New Year’s Day
Our Lady of Grace
January 1, 2007

Bells: A Sign of Hope for the New Year
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Hearing Bells

One hundred and forty-three years ago, as the year 1863 was passing over into 1864, our nation was deeply divided by the Civil War. Americans were killing Americans on American soil. Families were divided, North and South with brothers fighting brothers.

On that Christmas, the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was feeling very down. He was very worried about our Nation and about his son who had been wounded in battle.

In the midst of these feelings, Longfellow scribbled these words: “In despair I bowed my head; `There is no peace on earth,’ I said. `For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to all.’”

Then, just as he had written these words, Longfellow heard (bells begin to ring) … the sound of bells from a nearby church. For him, the peeling of bells spoke of hope and of something much stronger than his downcast spirit.

And letting the pealing of the bells flow over him (pause and listen), Longfellow rewrote his words: “Then peeled the bells more loud and deep: `God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to all.’”

As you may know, Longfellow’s words became our popular Christmas carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.


I Heard the Word

Those bells reminded Longfellow of God and of what Christmas is all about. They gave him hope to face the New Year.

In a sort of mystical way, they revived the seeds of faith and hope that lay deep within him. They helped him to see the positive possibilities for human life that the birth of Jesus proclaims for a New Year.

And I would submit that those very same bells can do the same for us as we begin a New Year (Stop bells.)

For us, the Scripture readings this New Year’s Eve (Day) – like the bells – awaken our faith and hope in the possibilities that the Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings us.


A Possibility: Reverence for Human Life

In the second reading form Galatians, Paul tells us that we are daughters and sons of God and that that same God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, Jesus, who cries out “Father.”

We are no longer slaves to sin, but sons and daughters of God, and brothers and sisters to one another.

That fact can be the foundation for reverencing the life and dignity of each person, a value so important for our day and age.

For example, the birth of our Savior and this New Year can lift up the thoughtful care of our elderly who are less able to take of themselves.

It can lift up a sensitivity within us for the life of the unborn and for all children who need a safe and secure environment for growing.

And the birth of our Savior and a New Year can quicken in us a desire to alleviate the suffering of people whom we do not even know – whether they are homeless here in Baltimore County or the millions starving in Darfur in the Sudan or Tanzania.

Reverence for life is strengthened by the Spirit of Jesus within us, a Spirit that cries out “Father,” and makes us all members of one human family.


A Possibility: Respect for Differences

Last Sunday, in the Gospel of Christmas, the Shepherds go in haste to Bethlehem and find the baby lying in a manger. They see and they understand what had been told them, and return glorifying and praising God.
Next Sunday, on the Feast of the Epiphany, the Gospel will tell of three Wise Men from the East – specifically Persians – who come to pay homage to the newborn Savior.

In a wonderful contrast of visitors, Jesus draws to himself non-Jews, both the poor, uneducated shepherds and the wealthy, educated Wise Men.

Thus the birth of our Savior and this New Year can lift up the possibility of living with a genuine respect for differences, again so important a value for our day.

So Christmas urges us to assume that people are of good will even when their political opinions are different. It calls us to accept differences in religious background or race or culture.

The dawn of a New Year may call us Americans and us Christians to work at understanding the Muslim religion and the Arab culture from which the Wise Men came.

It may call us to appreciate the gift of the poor and needy to us, that is, their gift of faith and trust in God in not having material things.

Yes, the birth of our Savior and this New Year lifts up the possibility of living with a new respect for the differences we find in others.


Conclusion

(Bells begin to ring.) Tonight (Today), my friends, may we allow the bells of Christmas and the visiting of Shepherds and Wise Men to the manger awaken our faith and hope.

May they awaken us to the marvelous possibilities that the birth of Jesus proclaims.

May they awaken us to a reverence for the life and the dignity of each person, and to a respect for the difference among us.

(Bells end after mediation.)