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Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent

READ: (Isa 40: 1-5, 9-11; 2 Pet 3: 8-14; Mk 1: 1-8)

REFLECT:  Prepare the road that leads to peace…

Dear friends today we are in the second Sunday in the season of Advent. We all want peace in life or would like to walk on the road that is smooth and soft, because a smoother path makes the journey peaceful and a peaceful life makes our life comfortably journey with. Today, somehow the peace is lost and we all of us are in search of it. We will not be able to find out anywhere outside Christ. The real peace is in Christ, with Christ and through Christ, because Christ himself is peace and prince of peace. The entire liturgy of the word presents before us as how we can bring peace to oneself and others, thus live a peaceful life. So I would like to share with you three points of reflection;

1. Bring comfort to people:

One of the ways we can bring peace and serenity to people is by giving them comfort  and consolation. In times of desolation and discomfort, money does not play a vital role but words of consolation and accompanying presence to show one’s solidarity and strong bond. Something similar we find in the first reading from prophet Isaiah, where God comes to comfort his people and give peace. In the first reading we see the double use of the word comfort. It highlights the depth of feeling of God’s heart. God promises them to overcome their present distress and be secured of the future by the words of comfort and consolation God gives to people of Israel. The very sentence, “Comfort, comfort, my people,” discloses the intimate and covenantal relationship that God has established with the people of Israel and he does not want to disown or disassociate with them. Therefore, we see the continued covenantal relationship that takes place by the promise and the word of God. The pardon that God offers, the forgiveness of sins, the restoration of place and relationship with God is emerging from bounty or grace of God, because of God’s graciousness, the Israelites have found favor with God. 

Therefore, prophet Isaiah gives us clear glimpse of God love for his chosen people. God desires to bring back the people of Israel, give them comfort and consolation. That’s what we hear through the mouth of Prophet Isaiah, “Comfort, comfort my people, says the Lord your God; cry out to Jerusalem, God has pardoned you.” The message of consolation and hope that God gives to us we need to spread to people around us.  So are we ready to make space for the comfort and consolation that comes from the Lord’s goodness and graciousness? Very beautifully Pope Francis tell us, “We cannot be messengers of God’s comfort if we do not first feel the joy of being comforted and loved by Him.” yes, we can only be true messengers or channels  of comfort to one another, if only we understand and experience the true comfort that springs from God. Once we experience the true comfort of God in our lives, that shall be the power source to give comfort to others; the experience of comfort from God would give us the courage to console others, although we may in discomfort.

However, the message of consolation and comfort that God offers us through prophet Isaiah becomes challenge for us. Can we offer others consolation and comfort to bring peace in life? so witnessing to be comfort or consolation giver is a challenge as there are many who are burdened with sufferings, pains, injustice and disunity, hardships and hard realities of life. we all of us have engrossed so much into the worldly powers and pleasures of the world and firmly believe that they are tools for everlasting happiness and peace. But if only we realize, we would understand that the comfort and consolation from worldly powers and pleasures are only temporary.  Just as God brought comfort and consolation to people of Israel, so also in our lives only God could give us complete consolation and comfort from every vacuum that’s created in our lives, be it spiritual or physical, emotional or economical etc. For God has power over everything in heaven above and on earth beneath.

2. Be a blessing to People:

One of the ways we obtain peace for ourselves or give peace to others is by being and becoming a blessing to people around us.  Jerry Smith very beautifully points out, “It’s good to be blessed and it’s better to be a blessing.” Yes, that’s what the second reading from Second Letter to Peter conveys us, “Be of one mind, have compassion for others, love as brothers and sisters, be tender hearted, be courteous and be a blessing.” I feel personally that the second reading from second Peter is the proposal of ways and means to obtain peace in our lives as God’s children. We have seven verses, which strongly warn us not to return to evil but shun all evil ways that destroys peace and serenity, pursue good and promote goodness. Be a follower of good and goodness; be blessed although you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

Yes, saying ‘no’ to evil and ‘yes’ to good is a sign of blessing. Where, good and goodness grow, there is peace and harmony. The purpose of our calling on earth to live as sons and daughters is harmony and not division, joy and not suffering, peace and not war. If today, the world is full of war and violence or filled with suffering and pain, because we all have failed to be a blessing by the very lives we live and lead. The season of advent is an additional opportunity that God gives to us be a sign of blessing and bring God’s blessing upon one another. We all of us have seen or been part of Orchestra, where the harmony and symphony of music, musicians, singing and singers blend well together and produces great work of harmony. Similarly, when each one of collaborate and co-operate one another, live life according to God’s call and will, lead our lives in the commands and demands of God, there will be peace and harmony all over the world.

Pope Francis very beautifully says, “Many people do not do evil but neither do they do any good. These people pass their live in indifference, apathy and lukewarmness. And he gives a simple formula for life: “It’s good not to do evil. But it’s evil not to do good.” Yes, not being or doing good is evil and it is a curse upon ourselves. When we do good and be good, in turn it becomes a blessing for oneself and others. Today how can we be a blessing is what we need to work on. We can be a blessing by helping someone, who is weak and vulnerable, who can’t afford to pay us back in any way; we can give up our comfort zone and make others comfortable with what we can contribute to their life. If we look at the world, there are many who are blessed by God but very few people come forward to bless people and be a blessing to others. So let us try to be a blessing to others and God would bless us in abundance always.

3. Be a right road to people:

Being a right road to people would mean to show the people the right path to reach the the right destination. All of us would agree that John the Baptist a right road, who lead many people to reach their destination in God. He was just repairing the damaged road for people to walk smoothly and properly. The hearts of people were damaged by sins and waywardness. Therefore, he prepares the people to walk on the right road to return, to repent  and redirect their lives in God. Perhaps this preparation is significantly for the coming of God. Thus John the Baptist becomes a forerunner or precursor of Jesus in his ministry. The life that he lived, the place he lived in and the food he ate, the message he preached was something unique for people to be attracted towards him. Probably as people were loaded or burdened with sins of different kinds, they were waiting for the confession of sins and receive healing. Here comes the role of giving importance to confession, by which our sins are washed and we are made clean and become a new creation in the Lord.

John the Baptist minimizes his role as meager as possible, as he acknowledged that the one coming after him is more powerful than him and he considers unworthy of himself when compared to Christ. Such is the preference and importance he gives to Jesus and makes every effort to make Christ known far greater than anything. Because, John the Baptist, who was sent by God to prepare the way for the Son of God, Jesus, might have also known the importance he must give to Christ, the Son of God. Because, Jesus is the ultimate peace-giver of life and John the Baptist is the preparer to the road that leads to Peace, Jesus Christ himself. So John the Baptist is presented to us as a model during Advent. We, too, are called as well to prepare a way for the Lord. Like John the Baptist, we are called to be messengers and witnesses in service to God, who is greater than us.

Looking deeply into the gospel of Mark, we find that the Evangelist Mark gives a vivid presentation and function of John the Baptist. First of all the Gospel of Mark presents before us John’s career was the result of divine appointment in fulfillment of prophecy and secondly John the Baptist more than himself and his acts, he bore witness to the supreme dignity and power of the Messiah, whose coming was near. The two references of Old Testament prophecies (Malachi and Isaiah) serve as tools to understand better the role of Jesus and John the Baptist. The prophet Malachi’s prediction refers in history to the Lord coming to His temple in judgment for the sins of His people and prophets Isaiah’s words as preparatory to the coming of the Servant Lord who will deliver His people from their bondage in Babylon. Equally valid in the present moment, however, these same prophecies speak the roles of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. John as a preacher of God’s word and as the one preparing for the coming of Jesus smoothen the path of people to walk towards Jesus.  Jesus, according to the prophecies of the prophets would come as Judge in His divine power and as Deliverer in His Servant role.

It was very easy for John the Baptist to accept his role as fore-runner or preparer of the way for the Messiah. Being a precursor was his role and purpose and he understood it very clearly. Because of which, John the Baptist was able to accept and humble himself saying, “ the one coming after me is mightier than I.” He was able to announce later as well, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” (Jn 1:29). Today, such attitude and approach like John the Baptist among us is difficult, because we have not understood our role and purpose on earth as God’s children nor we have accepted our role and purpose of being God’s children. John the Baptist was able to give up self-interest and self-importance because he understood Christ was more important than anything else including his own self. Unless, we give up selfishness, we won’t be able to attach ourselves to Christ or won’t be able to give importance to Christ. As a result we will end up life in misery without peace and serenity of life. So let us give up self-interest and self-importance and give importance to Christ and obtain peace in life.

As Pope Francis tells us, “St. John the Baptist is a model for Christian witness, leading others to Jesus and then stepping out of the way so they follow the Lord and not the person who evangelized them. Further he says, “John the Baptist opens the door and then he leaves. Priest and other evangelizers must do the same. Parents make many sacrifices for their children, but when they are grown, they have to leave them free to take their own path in work, in marriage, in life. They also must accompany their adult children with discretion without intrusiveness.” Yes, detachment to self is important to make Christ center of our lives. Let Christ be the centre of life to live life in peace and harmony.  Let us also remember that we have lighted the second candle of advent, the candle of peace. Let this candle of peace (Christ) burn brightly in our lives to live life peacefully and move towards Jesus, the saviour of the world.

RESPOND:

Do we look for self-comfort or the comfort of others in life?

Do we become a burden or blessing to others and oneself in life?

Do we become part of the road that leads to peace or turmoil and trials?

Let us make efforts to comfort one another, be a blessing to all and be part of the road that leads all to Peace, the true Peace, Christ Himself. Amen.

 God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968