4TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ADVENT — YEAR C
4TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ADVENT — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: JOYFUL ANTICIPATION OF GOD’S LOVE
BY: Fr Isaac Awe
Micah 5:1-4/ Hebrews 10:5-10/ Luke 1:39-45
At the beginning of the advent season, we were made to know that we shall be reflecting on four major pillars of our faith: Hope, Peace, Joy and love. These four themes are connected and always reflects in our readings since the beginning of the advent season and today’s reflection centres on the manifestations of God’s love which we are called to anticipate through our interior and exterior preparations. However, we are to know that the ways of God are certainly not ours and the mercy of God surpasses all human understanding. What we experienced and still experiencing is the LOVE of God. When Micah was sent to recall his rebellious, thankless people, and told him to foretell the national and personal disasters their sins were about to bring on them, he gave at the same time a glimpse of the glorious future that awaited them.
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The Jews had indeed seen the wondrous love and mercy of God, but have we Christians not experienced that love and mercy to an infinitely greater degree? God sent his son to live and die for us and yet how cold is our love, how meagre and begrudging is our thanksgiving, our return for his infinite love.
Therefore, to make that love more mysterious still the world was full of sin when the incarnation took place. Man who could and should have known and loved his creator, had in his pride and selfishness forgotten his benefactor and offended him. But that did not deter God’s love, it entailed suffering and a cruel death for the son in his human nature which was cheaply borne out of love for us. “Behold I come to do thy will” was the son’s response, he humbled himself so that we should be raised up, he died so that we should live eternally. His perfect obedience, coming from the God -man, made atonement for all the sins of the whole human race had ever committed or ever could commit. All we can say to this mystery of infinite love is : Thank you God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for all you have done and are still doing for us, unworthy though we be.
The moment Mary accepted the angel’s announcement in Nazareth and said “Be it done unto me according to thy word” she became the mother of the redeemer. And at the same time she became our mother also, for Christ has made us his brothers. There is no stronger , no greater, no more unselfish love on earth than that of a mother for his child. Expecting nothing in return! Mary, our mother in heaven, has made a sacrifice for us . However, filled with the Holy Spirit, that is , informed, inspired by God, Elizabeth was the first human being to proclaim the dignity, the special position given to Mary in God’s plan for our redemption. Hence, we are called to be docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in order to be one of the beneficiaries of God’s love and mercy.
Like the Jews of Micah’s time we are aware that God has promised us the kingdom of heaven where we shall have eternal happiness and peace. Yet, how many of us are willing to bear the trials of this life and shun illicit gains and pleasures for the sake of that happy eternal future?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us joy in seeking you more earnestly. Increase our faith in all your promises, hope in the joy of heaven, and love for You as our All. Amen
Happy Last Sunday of Advent!
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