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

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

HOMILY THEME: GOD PLANNED OUR REDEMPTION

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: GENESIS 49:2.8-10, PSALM 72, MATTHEW 1:1-17

God accomplishes his tasks come what may. He carefully plans his line of action and executes same nicely. From creation to the redemption and sustenance of humanity; he, God, orders everything in his good pleasure and instantiates them beautifully.

The incarnation marked the climax of a carefully and patiently planned salvation of humanity by God. Dear friends, while this genealogy shows the continuity of God’s providential plan from Abraham on, discontinuity is also present. These women: Tamar (Matt.1:3), Rahab and Ruth (Matt. 1:5), and the wife of Uriah, Bathsheba (Matt. 1:6), bore their sons through unions that were in varying degrees strange and unexpected. These ‘irregularities’ culminated in the Messiah’s birth through a virgin mother.

The genealogy is a reassurance that with God everything is possible (Luke 1:37); it fits best the Portuguese proverb, “God writes straight on crooked lines”. Dear friends, even out an evil source, God can draw out a good effect; he can make a glorious harmony out of good and bad people. God worked through the outstanding characters on the genealogy as well as the ugly ones to bring about the world’s saviour, the greatest son of Israel, the mightiest man to have graced the earth’s surface; he that posterity can never forget, Jesus Christ. For he had planned, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah until he comes to whom it belongs and to him shall be the obedience of the people (Gen. 49:10). No matter how long it took, no matter the characters involved, God’s plan came to be fulfilled in Jesus.

Brethren, in the pursuit of our destinies, aspirations, goals and dreams, our paths may be crossed by good, bad and ugly people alike; we may experience a protracted wait; we may do well to trust in God’s design for us. We may well remember that all his plans for us are for prosperity, they are good and not disastrous, and they are plans for a blessed future with hope (Jer. 29:11).

For the grace to see order in our seemingly scattered world, to see God’s plan and it’s gradual fulfillment in our lives amidst the many obstacles; hence wait for him come what may, we pray through Christ our Lord, amen.

FEED AND EDUCATE ONE, PLEASE.