YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT

HOMILY THEME: MY SALVATION, GOD’S PRIORITY

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: ISAIAH 40:1-11, PSALM 96, MATTHEW 18:12-14

What is God’s priority? It is the saving of every soul especially the straying. My dear friends in Christ, God does not delight in the death or perishing of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11). That is why he came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10); that is why he is patient with us wishing that none should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2Pet. 3:9). This explains why we all are alive today; that God prioritizes our saving and goes all out to find and save us, lost and corrupt as we are.

The merciful nature of God makes him pained to see his creation perish and Christ reiterates this in Matthew 18:14 thus “So it is not the will of my Father…that one of these little ones should perish”. “The good news of the gospel is not that the lost one can find the way home…It is that the shepherd is out SEARCHING, SEEKING, LOOKING and FINDING his lost souls in whatever way possible”. What we await this Advent and subsequently celebrate at Christmas is not humanity rediscovering God; it is God, coming to the world in search of his lost people in order to save them. IT IS GOD ENTERING THE HUMAN RACE TO SAVE IT FROM WITHIN.

Sons and daughters of God, what we are waiting for this Advent is Isaiah’s prophecy (40:1-11) come true. The birth of Christ brings comfort to wearied homes, peace to troubled hearts, forgiveness to sinners. It reminds humanity of the need to fill up the valleys of sin and level the mountains of pride, hence the call for repentance. The incarnation bares the glory of God thereby enhancing good tidings, rewarding the just, reprimanding the unrepentant and driving all fear away. Beloved, what we wait for is the advent of a concerned shepherd who protects and keeps those in his charge so that none may be lost (John 17:12). He will feed his flock, gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom whilst gently leading those with young (Isa.40:11).

Ours is a world needing a saving. Those living in despicable conditions need to be comforted; those afraid need courage, the sinful desire forgiveness; those wounded in heart seek mending. In fact dearly beloved, the human race (made good but turned evil) needs a corrective surgery which can only be conducted by an uncorrupted insider. With Christmas this is made possible because God becomes man so as to save man. May we through our docility to the call of the good shepherd, allow Christ who is out there looking for us to find us, save us and lead us back to his fold. Amen.

HELP ME LORD TO FEED AND EDUCATE THE POOR AROUND ME…