YEAR A: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT (1)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: LENT: DAY 24 – FAST FROM VICE; EMBRACE VIRTUE

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: LENT: DAY 24 – FAST FROM VICE; EMBRACE VIRTUE

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

 

HOMILY: SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

READINGS: ISAIAH 7:10-14;8:10, PSALM 40, HEBREWS 10:4-10, LUKE 1:26-38

Friends in Christ, the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated as one of the greatest events in human history because it is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s incarnation. It is the moment when HEAVEN WAS JOINED TO EARTH; DIVINITY TO HUMANITY, AND THE MOMENT WHEN GOD DECIDED TO PITCH HIS TENT AMONG MEN: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us” (Jn.1:14). It is the highest echelon of God’s self-giving to all of creation, true God becoming true man only so that he could liberate man from the hold of sin. We celebrate the dawning of man’s salvation in this solemnity of the ‘Word who becomes Mary’s Son and of the Virgin who becomes God’s Mother’ as Paul VI once said.

The prophecy of Isaiah 7:10-14;8:10 tasks us to trust God completely even when we seem not to understand his will for us. In 733 B.C, Judah suffered a humiliating defeat and more attacks were imminent from a coalition formed by her enemies. Ahaz was afraid and went into an irreligious alliance with Assyria (against God’s design). After series of persuasions from Isaiah fell on deaf ears, he requested that Ahaz ask God for a sign; this too failed. He trusted Assyria and feared his enemies more than he trusted God (like most of us do). Isaiah went ahead to deliver the prophecy, a fulfillment of which we are celebrating today.

This solemnity therefore reminds us of how needful it is to trust God completely and rely on him alone for strength and protection. It reminds us also that God never fails; he is always faithful to his promises. He had promised David an everlasting kingdom (2Sam. 7:14-16), a promise he kept through the incarnation as announced today in Luke 1:26-38. More so, in line with Hebrews 10:4-10, this solemnity reminds us of the reason for which the Word became flesh: to do the will of God. This will of God, he carried out perfectly by sacrificing his life on the tree for sinful man. Consequently, this solemnity, following the gospel passage, invites us to be righteous before God. Mary, though very humble was chaste, pure and spotless, that mattered most to God hence her choice for the theotokos – Divine Motherhood.

Beloved, we may choose never to be like Ahaz but like Mother Mary who trusted God fully and even what seemed impossible humanly speaking became very possible (Lk. 1:38). When our visions are blurred by the darkness of this world, when our strength fails, our plans persistently remain fruitless may we remember Isaiah’s words: plans without God are thwarted, resolutions made beside him shall never be carried out (8:10). So then, may we key into God’s plans, align our wills to his like Mary and Christ did, obediently accept and adhere to his dictates; for he chose us from birth to go and bear lasting fruits (Jn. 15:16). May we strive too; to purge ourselves of sin and vice, stay pure and lowly before God, only then can we be favoured with so great blessings as was Mary our Mother. Amen.

God was, is and will always be in solidarity with us; how have we repaid him? Covid – 19 won’t vanquish humanity.

FEED AND EDUCATE ONE

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