Second Sunday of Advent (Homily)
December 06, 2015 5:00 pm · Father David Mbimadong
On this 2nd Sunday of Advent, the first reading calls on all people awaiting redemption from slavery to take off the dress of sorrow and distress and put on the beauty of the glory of God forever. And what is the reason for a people in distress to start dancing for Joy? The prophet Baruch puts it this way, “For God means to show your splendor to every nation… since the name God gives you for ever will be, Peace through integrity, and honor through devotedness.” This was the message of good news from God to His suffering people in times past. Yet it is still so relevant for us today. (If we look at what happens around us in recent times, we simply have to accept that we are becoming slaves in our own countries). While it is so true that we are not in physical bondage to anyone, we are enslaved by the sin of the millennium – a crave for material goods in a selfish manner that leaves no room for the common good of all. We are enslaved by our desires and passions. We are enslaved by our lack of firm trust in the Word of God that is meant to set us free from our captivity to sin and malice. That is why some people are caught up in the desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to others. So they are intent on committing unlawful acts and cause harm without any justification or excuse.
With all this however, the message of the prophet is that, the time of malice and mischief that leads to sorrow will soon be over because God has decided to visit His people and set them free from the snare that entraps them. And that, just as God led Israel of old out of slavery, so also is He leading us, the New Israel that is purchased by the Blood of His Son, in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and (integrity) justice for (escort) company. And in the 2nd reading, Saint Paul’s voice continues to entreat all his hearers including us today, “to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”
In the same vein, the Gospel presents us John the Baptist whose message was a call to repentance. John made use of the text of the prophet Isaiah to express and to make his message clearer. He said, he is the voice of the one calling out in the desert of people’s lives entreating them to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make straight his paths. He calls us to fill every valley of our selfish acts with integrity and to lower the mountains and hills of our sin through repentance and the forgiveness of those who sin against us. He calls us to straighten the winding roads of deception to which we have perpetually clung. When all this is done, then we shall experience the joy of salvation. For, we would have invited Christ into our lives and let Him be our vision and our life.
The whole world is waiting for the joy of the salvation brought by our God. The world needs more than the absence of war, It needs peace in mind and body. God promises this peace, but He needs us (you and I today) to be the instruments and channels through which His peace will fill the earth. What is our response?