Homily for the Memorial of
the Dedication of St. Mary Major
Aug. 5, 2025
Collect
Num 12: 1-13
Matt 14: 22-36
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence,
N.R.
Jesus saves Peter from the sea
In
the collect we asked the Lord to pardon our faults, and we noted that we can’t
please him “by our own deeds.” Then we
asked for the intercession of the Mother of Jesus our Lord.
Both
readings tell tales of people—good people—trying by their own deeds to
accomplish something. Aaron and Miriam,
tho Moses’ siblings, learn that they don’t have the same call to lead Israel
that their brother has (Num 12:6-8).
They commit the fault of presumption, like more than a few in our time
who presume to correct the Holy Father or to teach as prophets all over the
internet. Peter learns that he can’t
keep his footing on the turbulent waters and needs Jesus’ hand to save him
(Matt 14:30-31).
In
the 1st case, Moses cries to the Lord, interceding for Miriam, and Aaron too
asked for his intercession (Num 12:11-13).
We may suppose that Moses’ prayer was heard inasmuch as his brother and
sister continued with him on the journey toward the land of Canaan.
In
Peter’s case, Jesus caught him and pulled him up when he cried, “Lord, save
me!” (14:30).
We
ought to know not to challenge the Lord as Aaron and Miriam did, and know not
to walk our journey without Jesus’ help.
We can’t please the Lord, i.e., live in grace, by our own deeds. But
sometimes we forget that. Then our
Mother Mary prays for us; we invoke her so often to “pray for us sinners
now”—not only “at the hour of our death.”
We’re confident that her intercession is more powerful than Moses’,
confident that she desires our safe passage toward the Promised Land almost as
much as her Son, our Lord, desires it.
And,
like Moses, we take up prayer for our brothers and sisters, God’s people,
speaking face to face with the Lord (Num 12:8)—for our confreres, families,
pupils, friends, and indeed the whole world.
Jesus calls us, too, to be intercessors.
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