Sermon by Bishop Martin Amos of Davenport

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Carmelites

7-16-2011

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So often Saint Luke comments that Mary pondered these things in her heart.

• I would imagine that Mary pondered in her heart the events of that first Good Friday that we heard this morning.
  • Simeon had told her that a sword would pierce her heart
  • And it must have that day
    • It would have been difficult for her when Jesus left home to begin his public ministry
    • But, nothing like this day
      • To stand beneath the cross, not yet having experienced the Resurrection
      • And seeing her Son die
• She must have pondered these things in her heart over and over.

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As contemplatives you are called upon in a special way to also ponder these things in your hearts.

• It is at the very core of your vocation
• Not just the crucifixion but all of God's activities in the world, your community and your lives
• To continually climb Mt. Horeb
  • Not once or twice but seven times

 

"Now go up,” Elijah told his servent "and look out to the sea.” He went up and looked. "There is nothing at all,” he said. God back seven times” Elijah said...” Now there is a cloud small...rising from the sea.”

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It was on this holy mountain that God and Moses conversed.

Exodus says: The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one person speaks to another.

The Lord invites you to that intimacy.

    

Of one who understands how to stay before God, no special activity, no special practical disposition is required. While on the contrary, this sense of God, this thirst to remain in His presence does not belong to that category of realities that a Rule or a technique can call into being.

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Jesus on the cross entrusted his Mother to John

     

• John could represent all the disciples yet to come
• And so in John, Mary is entrusted in a special way to you

         

Here at this Carmel under the patronage of Mary you seek to stay before God.

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This is not an easy task because Mount Horeb is located in the wilderness of Sinai and it is only later that Moses is told to head for greener pastures—a land flowing with milk and honey.

I would imagine that there are glimpses of the promised land

But much of your days is dealing with the desert

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How comforting to know that here at this Carmel under the patronage of Mary you live your days.

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