CHRISTMAS: CHRIST HOMECOMING
There is a concept of “homecoming” or “coming home” with regard to Christmas. Millions of people travelled every year during Christmas to re-join their friends and family to celebrate this most joyful feast of the year. It is a homecoming celebration of the Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago. It is the feast of Christ Second Coming at the end of time. And above, his coming daily into our lives through; the sacramental celebration especially the Eucharist, through prayer (personal or communal), through his Holy Word and through the daily events, experience and history of our lives.
OUR THEMES
The readings of the second Sunday of Advent invite us to a profound peace with God through repentance of sins. Hence, the second purple candle of the Advent Wreath is lit today. The coming of God or the intervention of God in Christ Jesus our broken humanity is a demonstration of God´s love to restore or reconcile us to the fullness grace. The readings also invite us to a spiritual preparation to welcome Our Lord and saviour into our lives.
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 40:1-5, 9-11
Prophet Isaiah offered consoling messages to the Israelites exiled in Babylon. He assured them, God is coming to save them and to open up the way into the future. When there will be a homecoming to resettle in the Holy Land of Israel, the Holy City of Judah: Jerusalem. However, this entails disposition and preparation to repent of sins and evil ways and following the lead of God.
The Psalmist in Psalm 85 announces the Lord’s salvation is near to us with a deep sense of the forgiving love of God. When he declares: “Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
SECOND READING: SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PETER 3:8-14
Saint Peter´s doctrine about the delay of the Parousia, the Second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This eschatological teaching is very important to Advent preparation. Since the delay of Christ´s coming is for God´s salvation to reach all. Hence, Peter reminds us that with God time and eternity do no really counts. What counts is take advantage of God´s patient to repent. That is while we live our lives we must lead a life of holiness and godliness, waiting Christ´s coming in our lives at any time
GOSPEL: MARK 1:1-8
John the Baptist prepares the people for the homecoming of their Saviour Jesus Christ through a baptism of repentance of sins. This is the central theme of the gospel of today.
1. “I send my messenger before you and he will prepare your road for you”. This is from Malachi 3:1, in its original context it is a threat of God´s purges of his temple of priests who failed in their duty.
2. In the context of John the Baptist, it refers to cleanse and purify the worship of the temple before the Anointed One of God emerged upon the earth.
3. So then, John emerging to preach a baptism of repentance and Christ coming is a call to purification. As such, Advent is a moment of preparation and purification to celebrate worthily the feast of Christmas.
4. By implication wherever Christianity comes it brings purification. In other words, Christianity cleanses society and purges it of evil.
5. For Christians to be agents of change and transformation in the large society. They need the wilderness or desert experience of John. A place of solicitude, quietness and prayer and Advent is the most appropriate time to do that.
6. John´s garment woven of camel’s hair and a leather belt about his waist is a true sign of an austerity lifestyle of detachment from worldly life and material thing. It is a call to simplicities and avoidance of luxuries living that kill the soul and spiritual Christian life.
7. It is worth noting of John´s exemplary living through a dietary simplest meal of locust and wild honey. His words match with his action as he preached the gospel of repentance.
8. Before John´s appearance in the desert, in Israel for three hundred years the voice of prophecy had been silent. Hence his message was effective because he told people what in their heart of hearts they knew and brought them what in the depths of their souls they were waiting for.
9. Equally, his message resounds with people and for the people because he was humble and pointed to someone beyond him: the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
John asked nothing for himself but everything for the Christ whom he proclaimed. Christmas means for us Christian putting Christ at the centre of our life and everything. Therefore, Advent is a moment of grace to become Christ-oriented. Especially, as we prepare for his homecoming: Immanuel-God with us!
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist herald your homecoming with a sense of urgency to be prepared and purified of all sins. Help us to prepare adequately for Christ rebirth in our lives and hearts as well as to be a pointing instrument of God´s channel of grace for all to turn to Christ. Amen.
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