YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (9)
HOMILY: READINGS: Micah 5: 2-5, Ps. 80, Heb. 10: 5-10, Luke 1, 39-45
When somebody is not free but under an authority that commands his action
YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
HOMILY THEME: BEHOLD I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.
BY: Rev. Fr. Callistus Emenyonu, cmf
HOMILY: READINGS: Micah 5: 2-5, Ps. 80, Heb. 10: 5-10, Luke 1, 39-45
When somebody is not free but under an authority that commands his action or is a slave to another, he has no power of his own to do whatever he wills but has to do his master’s will. Jesus presents himself as the Son of God who does not want to claim equality with the Father but who has to obey him in everything and do only his will. It is the will of the Father that he sends someone from heaven to the earth to redeem the world and reconcile them with God.
This mission entails suffering and here we see the suffering servant of God accepting to be clothed in human body and be born like us. The will of the Father was that he will be a human being, helpless child and reside in the womb of a woman, be saved first by those he came to save (Joseph) and be fed by those he came to feed, he was to condescend.
Judah from the first reading has a will of God to do which is to accept to give birth to that Messiah who said he has come to do his will. The Messiah’s doing of the will of God is dependent on the acceptance of Judah to help him fulfil this divine mandate. Some ones’ ability to do the will of God is waiting for you to fulfil your own role so that he can do his. If Judah refuses to give birth to him, it will frustrate his chances of doing God’s will. Judah has then a part to play in his doing the will of God. Judah is the choice of God even though it is too small in human eyes but very big and able to carry out that function. The wonderful thing about God is that he cannot give anyone a cross to carry which the person cannot carry nor give any one a cross so heavy without giving a helping hand.
Judah is in travail and so the rest of his brothers are waiting for him in order to return. His refusal will keep them in perpetual bondage. Jesus is ready to come but waiting for you to do your own part. If he does not come, you are the cause. Do you realize you have a divine assignment to carry out and that the world is waiting upon you to do that so that everything in the plan of God will fall in line? Do not break the progress chain and circle of divine events by your obstinacy and incredulity complicated by your ignorance of that duty and doubt. The Lord makes you to be the one to stand and feed the flock in the strength of the Lord. He has already strengthened you and given you all that you need, swing into action and get it done now. Beloved, God said it is not sacrifices that he needs but a body prepared for him. Can you buy God over with sacrifices and gifts? He only wants you to do his will because as Samuel would advice: obedience is better than sacrifice. You may be giving a lot and making much sacrifice while refusing to do his will for you, it will then be a wasted effort. Have you discerned the will of God for you and worked towards doing it according to the perfect will of God? What draws you back from doing his will; find it out and deal with it now.
Can we learn from Mary who willingly accepts to do the will of God? She gave her fiat at the angel’s message or offer of the dictates of God’s will. To prove her readiness, she swung into action immediately and went in haste to where God wanted her to go; she went there not to watch but did the will of God for her there by serving her auntie for three months. There is no human who has willingly, hastily and happily done the will of God than Mary and Jesus followed suit since good life and grace flow from same source. Mary’s obedience to do God’s will made the Child in the womb (John the Baptist) leap for joy, made Elizabeth feel fulfilled and joyous, and gave Elizabeth opportunity to prophesy and call Mary the Theotokos- Mother of God. It impacted on the person of John and filled him with Divine presence. If Mary did not hastily do the will of God what would have happened to Elizabeth and John and who would have told the world that Mary is the Mother of our Saviour.
Your refusal to do the will of God has a lot to do with the rest of humanity and the cooperate fulfilment of the will of God. What is the will of God for you this season of Advent that you may help Christ be properly born in the heart of the world and in yours as well?
Lord, we have strayed from doing your will, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. Lord protect us the vine you planted with your right hand and never allow men and forces to destroy it instead may they perish at the frown of your face. May your right hand be upon us your chosen ones so that we may never forsake you again; give us life that we may call upon your name, Amen.
Rev. Fr. Callistus Emenyonu, cmf
