It is one of the most popular hymns.
It is often sung at both weddings and funerals. Ave Maria by Schubert. The
melody came to him as he was hiking with a friend in the mountains of Austria.
Another famous piece by Schubert is
his 8th Symphony or Unfinished Symphony. Why didn’t he finish it? First
part was amazing – how could he match it? Never know, but lots of things are
left unfinished. Even Jesus left things
unfinished.
Bu, he said – do not be afraid – I will
send the Holy Spirit to help you.
This kind of help that the Holy Spirit
gives us is often spelled out in terms of the theological virtues – which means
they come from God and directed to God - faith, hope and charity.
Faith – this July – 50 years ago –
Neil Armstrong became first human to walk on the moon. There were many other
flights to prepare for that moment. One was Gemini 4 – manned by Ed White &
Jim McDivitt. Ed White was the first American to walk in space. He was asked later – what did he take with him
– a St. Christopher Medal given him by Pope John 23. He said – “faith was the
most important thing Jim and I had going for us.”
Faith – a supernatural virtue given us
in Baptism by the Holy Spirit. It empowers us to believe in God. That God
exists, that God made all things, that God made us in his image and likeness,
that he made us for good. Where would we be without that faith?
Hope – deep down in every human heart
there is a hunger for happiness. Hope is
the assurance that this hunger will be satisfied in the future and now. But
what kind of happiness? Do not let your hearts be troubled! God will make a
dwelling within us! God is here!
Victor Hugo – Let us be like a bird as
he sits of a frail branch singing. Although he feels the branch bending in the
wind, he does not stop singing, because he knows he has wings.
Charity – or love. Love of God gives
us peace. What is that peace – Tranquility of right order. Right relationship
with God and with others. How is that possible?
” Can a
rock that has been in the warmth and heat of the sunlight all day not fail to
give off warmth and heat at night? Can a Christian who has lived in the
sunlight of God’s love not fail to give off warmth and love? No. That is why
you have to have first things first. You don’t say to others, “Start loving
each other. Be nice.” No, no, no. First, we need to live in the sunlight of
God’s love. We need to bake in the sunlight of God’s compassion. We need to
absorb God’s light into us. And then…we start to give off the love. May your
light shine on me, God. May your love shine on us, God, so that there will be
peace in our families and on the earth.”
Unfinished
– but now it’s our turn. What will we make of our lives? In the end, faith,
hope and love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”
