HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY (1)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY.

HOMILY THEME: POWER TO CONQUER SIN

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Jn. 1:29-34)
In the day’s Gospel John introduces Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus was the one who will save the world. The symbolism of the lamb was derived from the Old Testament. Isaiah referred to the lamb which quietly accepts its death as the suffering servant. It can also refer to the passover lamb in the book of Exodus which was the symbol of freedom from oppression of the Egyptian. In the case, of Jesus, He was an offering of the Father who freed us from sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection defanged death. Death met its death. Sin was defeated.

But how is it that sin still prevails? Though sin was defeated, man prefers to resurrect it by committing them. God had given man freedom. He will never violate it. It is hoped that man will cooperate with God in permanently putting sin in its resting place. But man’s disobedience and rejection of God’s love continues to resuscitate sin and death. St. Paul puts it well, “How can we who died to sin yet live in it?” (6:2) Actually, the whole Chapter 6 of the Letter to the Romans explains this stupidity of man. We were brought out of prison yet we elect to go back to it.

Yes, it is not easy to avoid sin. The devil is very much active and always dwell on our weaknesses. It strikes at an unexpected hour and place. That is why we must be vigilant. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to guide, protect, and strengthen us. Let us call on the Spirit. Much more, let us listen to it. St. Paul, again, described the sorry state of man against sin in Romans 7:15, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” In the end, St. Paul, himself, said that it is only the Holy Spirit who can free us from that predicament.

Let us treasure what Jesus had gained for us with His death. His love should be enough for us. Let us live like free men and women. Or if you prefer, be slaves of righteousness. Be free from sin. Be slaves of God.