Fourth Sunday of Advent, 2024

This past November, I attended a one-man play about venerable Father Baker, which was put on by a gentleman from our diocese, hosted by Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Within the play, several parts of Father Baker’s life were reenacted. One of them was when he heard news about how the Buffalo River was being dredged and the remains of many newborns were found.


In response, Father Baker, with the support of many other Catholics, did the truly Catholic thing: Created a home for these women to either anonymously leave their children or be a place for them to give birth and live where they would feel supported.


And, as history shows, hundreds of babies were left and hundreds of unwed mothers were taken in and shown the respect and love they deserved. So, today, many current Buffalonians are indebted to Father Baker and so many Catholics who supported his ministry for the Christian love they were so brave to show.


And we do need courage to show Christian love.


We can imagine that Mary, the mother of Jesus, didn’t visit her older cousin Elizabeth to simply support her but to also receive support because, as was the case with the ladies Father Baker cared for, Mary’s pregnancy was unplanned and may not have had the full support of her community back home.


And, thankfully, Elizabeth was brave enough to show great love to Mary because Elizabeth was able to see God’s hand in it. She even called Mary blessed.


…Many women do not feel blessed to have an unplanned pregnancy partly because, I think, many lack the courage to call these women blessed; many lack the courage Father Baker had to show that every pregnancy was blessed because that life comes from God.


…This past October, I did a wedding for a young couple who had a very young child. They conceived in college; neither having a clear path to a career. And, by the grace of God, they kept the baby.


Why? One huge reason was likely because they had the support of their family; their family must have seen that pregnancy as a blessing and nothing less.


…Let’s use today’s gospel passage to the praise of mothers. They are truly brave; because a pregnancy can be terrifying news but, if they have the outspoken and unwavering support of their family and community, they too will see how blessed they are among women to have a new life from God within them.




Link to day’s Scripture readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122224.cfm


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