2ND SUNDAY HOMILY OF ADVENT – YEAR C

YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 

HOMILY THEME: PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD

BY: Fr. Cosmas Ukadike, C.M.

HOMILY:
As we enter into the second week of Advent, St. John de Baptist who is a prominent figure in the advent of Christ calls everyone today to prepare the way for the Lord, so that He may smoothly arrive into our hearts, our families and our world.
In order to prepare well for this great coming, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Lk 3, 3).
Thus the need to purify and wash ourselves clean is essential in this season, as it ushers in for us the presence of our great Lord and King.
John went on to highlight how we can go about this preparation by insisting that “every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill be made low” (Lk 3, 5).
This is a clarion call for self examination of our lives, to truly ascertain whether we are in the right direction or not.
It is a call to repentance, which means; turning away from sin and evil and returning back to God.
Every crooked lifestyle in us is to be straightened and all our rough edges, made smooth (Lk 3, 6) , so that when the Lord comes we all may see and testify to God’s salvation.
This is indeed the case as we see in today’s Psalm:
” When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs.
The heathens themselves said:
‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
Indeed we were glad” (125/126, 1-3).
As we make effort to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming, may our repentance bring us deliverance from all forms of bondage and make us free to receive the Lord when he comes.
Have a fruitful Advent week!
Fr. Cosmas Ukadike, C.M.