YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT (2)
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT
HOMILY THEME: COURAGE, THE SAVIOUR IS COMING
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: READINGS: ISAIAH
"Mary, Did You Know?" is a Christmas song with lyrics written by Mark Lowry and music written by Buddy Greene. The song has been re-mixed by some artistes including Pentatonix and Peter Hollens. The song is an inspiring one because it brings to heart the awesomeness of Mary being the mother of God her saviour.
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT
HOMILY THEME: COURAGE, THE SAVIOUR IS COMING
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: READINGS: ISAIAH 41:13-20, PSALM 145, MATTHEW 11:11-15
The true value of a person or nation is not gauged by our human position in society, but the way God sees it. The chosen of God now in captivity in Babylon were like a worm, little sized, terribly fragile, hopelessly powerless, plundered, dehumanized etc. In their fear and despair, just when they thought God had forsaken them, he came calling them to courage and fearlessness. The Lord our God has always proven to be our refuge, an ever present help in times of need (Ps. 46:1). Time and again he has shown us that he wouldn’t forsake us (Ps. 94:14). He is always faithful to his promises to us and today he reminds us: “I am your God…it is I who say to you, fear not, I will help you.” (Isa. 41:13ff).
Likening the condition of the chosen of God at this moment to what we are experiencing in contemporary Nigeria; I think it is necessary to console ourselves with God’s promise to help us. The world, God’s creation, as corrupted by man needs his help. Africans need God’s help, we need to be saved from mediocrity, retrogressive mindedness, the neo-colonialism perpetrated by our despotic and callous leaders. We need God’s help to curb avarice which brings about embezzlement of public funds and the impoverishment of many people. We need God’s help to deal with the many issues of violence: inter tribal wars, communal crises, inter-religious clashes, etc. We need God’s help now more than ever and pray that his coming at Christmas initiates a new dawn for us. Amen.
To the many Nigerians who were affected by hence suffer from the aftereffect of the marauding ills unleashed by insurgents, to those who were yesterday bedeviled by the onslaught of the boko haram, militants and the likes and all those infected by the venomous tongues of some of our evil inclined aristocrats I say: ‘Fear Not!’ For Emmanuel comes at Christmas to pitch his tent with us hence save us. To those passing through perilous situations that render them captive in their own land: the unpaid civil servants, the maltreated students of tertiary institutions of learning, the dehumanized employees of some heinous business men and women, etc. I say: fear not! Your God has not forsaken you. He is still your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; he will come to you and make your wilderness flow with water thereby revealing his glory in your life. Hold on and fear not.
We may want to prepare God’s way by being as faithful as John the Baptist was. We who are even greater than John because we have witnessed Jesus’ saving Cross have every reason to welcome Christ with all our hearts. Nothing should stop us from waiting for Christ as prepared as we ought. May we hold on to God come what may without fear trusting him to help and save us through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FEED AND EDUCATE ANOTHER
