YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT

HOMILY THEME: GOD WILL ALWAYS INTERVENE

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: JUDGES 13:2-7.24-25a, PSALM 71, LUKE 1:5-25

√•Ours is a God who answers prayers.
√•One who restores hope
√•He it is who bestows life-giving power to the sterile.
√•Cancels our shame and makes us joyful
√•It is never too late with God
√•Only wait for him trustingly

God gave Samson to Manoah of Zorah of the tribe of the Danites and his wife (Judges 13:2-7.24-25a); and John to the priest, Zechariah of the division of Abijah and his wife Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-25). In both instances, we notice the wives being barren therefore humanly impossible for them to beget children. Also, Zechariah and Elizabeth were well on in years and we may infer that Manoah and his wife too weren’t young men either and biologically unable to reproduce. Menopause is simply a time in a woman’s life when menstrual periods stop permanently hence they’re no longer able to bear children. It occurs between the ages of 49 and 52. These two couples were gone past this stage but God with whom all is possible (Luke 1:37) gave them children.

Besides, dear friends we may notice something appealing to God from these two couples, it is stated clearly in the case of Zachariah and Elizabeth that they were blameless and walked in the commands and ordinances of the Lord. Like we did before, now too we may infer that Manoah and his wife were also faithful servants of Yahweh hence he chose to bless them. Moreover, in the Old Testament, childlessness was a valid ground for divorce; yet these couples stayed together waiting on the Lord for the right time to come. They waited in prayer and expectant hope; in fact Zechariah got this good news in the Temple while making sacrifice to God.

Dearly beloved Advent affords us the opportunity to wait patiently on God whose time is always the best and whose gifts too always turn out to be blessings. John was a blessing to Zechariah and Elizabeth and indeed to the world; Samson also grew to be a blessing to the Israelites especially by saving them from the Philistines. We should always be patient with God, he knows when to bless us and what to give us. We may also learn to lead virtuous lives like these couples, for by so doing, we may be wooing God’s blessings. With God time, age, laws and limits don’t count. Sterility and menopause has no say in the language of God; no matter how helpless, wearied and hopeless our situations may be God can change them into blessings. He has done it before, he’ll do same again! Only believe him…
Memory Verse: Isaiah 60:22b

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