HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Dec 15, 2013

2855

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (35:1-6a, 10)

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lamp leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10)

(R) Lord, come and save us.

The Lord God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R)

The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers. (R)

The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint James (5:7-10)

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (11:2-11)

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; He will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

There is a story about a little boy in church with his mother. He was a good little boy, quiet and well behaved. He didn't cause any trouble. But every once in a while he would stand up on the chair, turn around, look at the people behind him and smile at them. Soon everybody behind him was starting to smile back at him, too. It was all going fine until the mother realized what the little boy was doing. When she did, she grabbed him by his ear and twisted it a bit, told him to sit down and remember that he was in church. Then he started sniffling and crying, and she turned to him and said, "That's better."

Friends, many a time there are people who feel that there is nothing in church that really brings joy into their lives. It is so sad that some people think that way. As matter of fact, our church is full of joy. For example, let us look around today. Different people from different places and cultures and speaking different languages but with one belief and one vocation are gathered here. We are believers and followers of Jesus Christ. In many parts of the world we witness the same. Isn't this something that brings joy to us?

As we enter the third week of advent we continue to read from the book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah lived seven hundred years before Christ. Before the prophet's time Israel had split into two kingdoms - Israel in the north and Judah in the south. For many generations they remained as separate nations. God sent prophets to comfort them with the promise that one day He would bring together all the descendants of Abraham. Isaiah was the first prophet who foresaw a great nation under the reign of a righteous king who would be called the Messiah. He had many visions concerning the coming of the Messiah into the world.

On the first Sunday of Advent we read his vision about the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and his words of encouragement to all the tribes of Israel to walk in the light of the Lord until the day the Messiah comes. It is a message of hope in which the prophet confirms God's love for His people and exhorts them to trust in Him alone in the face of destructive forces. And we lighted the first purple candle as a symbol of hope.

Last Sunday we read another vision of the prophet in which he sees the Messiah being born into house of Jesse, the father of King David and establishing a peaceful, righteous and glorious kingdom in the future, where animals of different kinds - wolfs and lambs, leopards and little children, cows and bears would lie down beside each other. It is a message of peace in which the prophet reminds the inhabitants of Judah and Israel of their great longing and God's desire for them to experience true and everlasting peace, a peace that existed since the time of creation. And we lighted the second purple candle to symbolize God's peace in our life.

In today's text the prophet talks about yet another vision. He foresees that God would soon intervene and bring a wonderful change in the life of the people. He announces that they will be blessed with not only fertile land and security but also food, drink, good health and fortunes, "The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song..., they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God..., the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be cleared..., the mute will sing." In other words, the prophet predicts that one day the kingdom of Israel will be restored. The barren desert or wasteland will be transformed and all physical infirmities or ailments will be healed and all the people will reach the Promised Land singing and rejoicing. Of course, there could be nothing as joyful as a blind person seeing, a deaf person hearing, a lame person walking and a mute person speaking. Hence, the prophet urges the people to look to the future not with fear and sorrow but with courage and joy. It is a message of joy in which the prophet tells them that salvation is near and they should rejoice in the Lord.

Friends, the prophecy of Isaiah of a kingdom of peace and joy began with the return of the people from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of their temple. But it is fully restored only in the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah as we read in today's gospel. Jesus says to the disciples of John who come to ask him whether He was the one that they have been expecting, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them."

What is the message for us?

The first vision of Isaiah gives us hope. In times of trial and hardships let us turn to the Lord and live in hope. The second vision promises enduring peace that only God can give if we walk in the path that He has shown us. Like hope and peace, joy is a gift from God. And today we have lighted the pink or rose candle symbolizing joy.

What is joy? Joy should not be confused with a smile or a laugh or happiness which comes easily to many of us. Joy is not something that we can seek but rather it is something that happens to us and deep inside us. It is an experience of overwhelming delight. It is a mixture of contentment, happiness, confidence, hope and peace. It is something that overtakes us and fills us when we remember what God has done and what he has promised to do in our family, in our church, in our community and in the world.

Joy happens to us when we walk on the path that Jesus Christ has set before us. So unlike the Israelites there is no need for us to keep waiting for the Messiah. He is already here in our midst. The vision of Isaiah is a reality today. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. There are many clear signs of hope, peace and joy through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is already accomplishing many miracles in our midst, through the Church, and through our own witness that makes the weak strong, the oppressed free, the blind see, the deaf hear and the lame walk. He grants real joy to those who long for and seek him. His grace comes forth to awaken and strengthen us in our times of need. One of the most graceful times is perhaps here and now. God has awakened in us the importance of Gospel joy to be preached to the whole of humanity. Pope Francis is a great example to help us all today to follow our Lord faithfully and joyfully.

Friends, Joy is a gift to give and receive. The main obstacle to the giving and receiving of joy is fear. Let us therefore, when we encounter any trouble or danger in life, when we are weak or afraid, remember that the Lord wants us to hear: "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God.", Isaiah (35:4), "Do not let your hearts to be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me.", John (14:1), "Take courage, it is I, Do not be afraid.", Matthew (14:27). Let us believe that God will deliver us from our troubles and that sorrow and sickness and fear will be left behind as we joyfully follow the Lord.

Let us also open our eyes to see and ears to hear what Jesus Christ is already doing in our midst and go and tell others what we see and hear. Let us courageously encourage those who lack hope, peace, joy and love by telling them, "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God!"

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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