Homily for Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Homily for Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent

Theme: PREPARE THE WAY…… “What did you go out to the desert to see?”

Today, three times Jesus Christ asks us: “What did you go out to the desert to see? Then what did you go out to see?; Then what did you go out to see?” (Lk 7:24.25.26).

Today, Jesus seems to want us to get rid of that eagerness of ours for a futile curiosity, of the arrogance the Pharisees and Masters of the Law showed by looking down upon God’s plans for them by ignoring John’s call (cf. Lk 7:30). We realize that only our “knowledge of God” will not save us; we must know Him, love Him and follow Him; we need a response from deep inside us, sincere, humble and grateful.

“All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God;” (Lk 7:29): now comes the time for salvation. As St. John Crysostom preached, now is not the time to be examined, but the time of forgiving. Now and today is the right time; God is coming near and nearer each time, because He is good, He is just and He knows us well, and therefore He is full of a love that forgives; because, every evening He waits for us, returning home, to embrace us.

And He offers us the gift of his forgiveness and his presence; He breaks whatever distance between us; He knocks at our door. Humble, patient, now He knocks at your heart: in your desert, in your loneliness, in your failings, in your incapacity, He wants you to see his loving.

We must leave behind our comfort and luxury and face reality as it is: disturbed by consumerism and selfishness we have forgotten what God is expecting from us. He wants our love; He wants us for Him; He wants us truly poor and simple, to be able to give us the news that, despite everything, we are still awaiting: —I am with you, do not be afraid, trust me.

Looking inside us, we may now say in a quiet voice: —O Lord, you know me and accept me as I am; open my heart to your presence; I wish to accept your love, I wish to welcome you, now that you are coming in silence and peace.

Fr. Carles ELÍAS i Cao

(Barcelona, Spain)