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News Latest News Homily for Fr Robert Henshaw’s Golden Jubilee of ordination | Homily for Fr Robert Henshaw’s Golden Jubilee of ordination |
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| Tuesday, 23 December 2008 | |
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20th December 2008 Our Lady Immaculate and St Andrew, Hitchin.
“The virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and she will call him Emmanuel.” Is. 7, 14
I called today a “Golden Jubilee, a Golden Memory a Golden Advent” and I am sure that given the present economic crisis some of you would prefer just to have the first part of each doublet!! But we gather here to remember and to celebrate golden events. We hear again today of that Golden event that was instrumental in transforming our destiny from being a people lost and truly poverty stricken into a people with a golden destiny which we continue to live. The event I refer to is Mary saying yes to God, and yes to us and for us. It is therefore not only appropriate but just and right that we choose today to give thanks for the 50 Golden years of Father Robert’s priesthood, for his saying yes to God and a yes to us, a response that he lived so generously in the example of Mary.
But, if you will allow me, I wish to begin with a story about the THORN OF GLASTONBURY. An ancient golden Christmas legend that tells how Joseph of Arimathea, that good man and just, who laid our Lord in his own sepulchre, who was persecuted by Pontius Pilate, and who finally fled Jerusalem carrying with him the Holy Grail hidden beneath a mystical and white samite cloth. For many months he wandered supported only by his staff cut from a white-thorn bush. He crossed raging seas and dreary wastes, wandered through trackless forests, climbed rugged mountains, and forded many floods. At last he came to Gaul where the Apostle Philip was preaching the Good News to the heathen. And there Joseph rested for a short while.
Now, one night while Joseph lay asleep in his hut, he was wakened by a radiant light. nd as he gazed with wondering eyes he saw an angel standing by his bed, wrapped in a cloud of incense.
"Joseph of Arimathea," said the angel, "cross over to Britain and preach the Good News to King Arvigarus. And there, where a Christmas miracle shall come to pass, build the first Christian church in that land."
And while Joseph lay perplexed and wondering in his heart what answer to give, the angel vanished from his sight.
So Joseph went to the Apostle Philip and told him the angel's message. At daybreak, Philip sent him on his way, accompanied by eleven chosen followers. They embarked in a little ship and eventually came to the coast of Britain.
There, they were met by the heathens who took them to Arvigarus their king. To him and to his people Joseph of Arimathea preached the Good News; but the king's heart, though moved, was not convinced. Nevertheless, he gave to Joseph and his followers Avalon, the happy isle, the isle of the blessed, and he bade them go there and immediately build an altar to their God.
Avalon was a wonderful gift. It was sometimes called the Island of Apples, and also known to the people of the land as Ynis-witren, the Isle of Glassy Waters. Beautiful and peaceful it was. Deep it lay in the midst of a green valley, and the balmy breezes fanned its apple orchards, and scattered afar the sweet fragrance of rosy blossoms or ripened fruit. Soft grew the green grass beneath the feet. The smooth waves gently lapped the shore, and water-lilies floated on the surface of the tide; while in the blue sky above sailed the fleecy clouds.
Joseph and his companions reached the Isle of Avalon on Christmas Eve, carrying with them the Holy Grail hidden beneath its cloth of snow-white samite. Heavily they toiled up the steep ascent of the hill called Weary-All. And when they reached the top Joseph thrust his thorn-staff into the ground.
And, lo! A miracle! The thorn-staff put out roots, sprouted and budded, and burst into a mass of white and fragrant flowers! And on the spot where the thorn had bloomed, Joseph built the first Christian church in Britain. And he made it "wattled all round" with willow tree branches gathered from the water's edge. And in the chapel they placed the Holy Grail.
And so, it is said, ever since at Glastonbury Abbey, the name by which that Avalon is known to-day, on Christmas Eve the white thorn buds and blooms.
The ancient stories say that Joseph lived over 40 years in Glastonbury and worked many miracles there.
I am not aware that Robert ever carried a stick cut from a white thorn bush and certainly did not build a church or abbey of stone like Joseph. No! Robert’s support was the book of scriptures and the church that he built was made of people . . . . . If Robert was visited by an Angel, he never let on, although I believe he was visited by many angels who brought him messages from God even if these angels were unaware of what they were doing…..
I would like to return to theme of Gold which accompanies the Christmas story we are soon to celebrate, because I saw everyone’s eyes widen at its mention; unfortunately, I have no Gold of the monetary kind to give away, but we are being offered a different kind of Gold today, something far more valuable, for it is the Gold of dignity and a royal dignity at that. In celebrating Mary, Joseph of Arimathea, and Father Robert we celebrate the people who opened us to this royal dignity.
Mary gave birth to the word of life, the word of God, the Emmanuel who came among us that we might share his life. Joseph, who, if the legend is true, first brought that word of Life to these ancient shores and saw it blossom like the flowers from his white thorn stick. And Robert, who took that word and planted it in our hearts where it has taken root and blossoms as beautiful as that stick in Glastonbury those many years ago; and which we wait to blossom anew.
All that they have done: Mary, Joseph, and Robert they did as Paul reminds us in the second reading as an act of praise. In fact, you would be forgiven if you thought the words of the second reading were Robert’s short prayer of praise addressed to us today - I paraphrase (as Robert would have done….!)
Brothers and sisters:
To the God who strengthens us
with the Good News of Jesus Christ,
who revealed to us the mystery kept secret for ages long,
a mystery manifested through the writings of the prophets,
in accordance with the command of the eternal God;
a mystery made known to all the nations so that we all might believe.
To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ,
be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Rom 16:25-27)
King David so wanted to build a temple for God’s word, the Covenant, for the glory and praise of God but was told it would be his successors who would do that. Robert lived and preached the Word that we might share with him in giving praise and glory to God and with Mary say “My Soul glorifies the Lord…” And if we ask, like Mary, how can we bring Jesus Christ into our world today? The answer we will receive will be like that given to Mary. The
Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you! And with the Holy Spirit all things are possible. King David, Mary, Joseph and Fr Robert will testify to that….
So today we celebrate ancient stories and recent memories that remind us that we live in a Golden age, the age of Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ comes to renew his presence in our lives so that the Word of life sown within us flowers and blossoms all the more brightly, reflecting the glory of God in our lives.
Advent is always a Golden time, but it helps us realize this more deeply when we celebrate the golden years of one of the master messengers of God, Fr Robert Henshaw a.a., the bearer of the Good News, that Golden word that enriches our lives.
Fr. Tom O'Brien
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