THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Philippians 4:4-7

We live in a sorrowful world surrounded by violence and war. The dreams of a just, free and peaceful world have been shattered. We try to survive drowning ourselves in lust for wealth, power and pleasure, living aimless lives that don’t satisfy our hearts. There is so much suffering inflicted by human beings on other human beings. Time and again, we are the worst enemies of ourselves. To affirm our egos, we are ready to destroy the world. Having expelled God from our lives, we turn against each other and do not rest until we create hell on earth. We have become hopeless people and cannot find motives for joy. It was the same in the past. The people of Israel went through troubled times when they lost everything that gave meaning to their lives. They experienced oppression and exploitation. It was as if their lives were full of darkness. God had abandoned them and allowed their darkest desires to take possession of them. However, God never forgets his people despite their betrayals and revolt. In his merciful love, God is always ready to rescue those who are drowning and cry for help. And the Lord comes to our rescue. He commits himself to us. Indeed, with the Lord by our side, we “have no more evil to fear”, since the Lord our God is in our midst.

In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul speaks also of joy and happiness. He wishes for our happiness, and we may be reassured of it because the Lord is very near. “There is no need to worry.” And, if we are in need, we should present our needs to the Lord. He will grant us peace and guard our hearts and our thoughts.

In this third Sunday of Advent, the gospel invites us to look at John the Baptist and listen to him. All kinds of people went to John asking for advice: What must we do?  We must ask the same question and then listen to the answer. To the people in general, John advised them to pay attention to the poor and share with them what they have Then, to the specific groups of tax collectors and soldiers, he gave specific advice. Tax collectors should not extortion money from people, and soldiers should not use violence and oppression.

John was a truthful man who never claimed to be more than what he was. He came to baptise with water to prepare the way for the one who was coming to baptise with the Spirit.

Let us profess our faith with Isaiah saying:

“Truly, God is my salvation,

  I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,

  he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water

  from the wells of salvation.” (Is 12)

PREPARE A WAY FOR THE LORD

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Luke 3:1-6

The first reading, taken from the prophet Baruch, is full of hope. The people of God are invited to take off the “dress of sorrow and distress” and “put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever”.Indeed, “God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory with his mercy and integrity for escort.” (Baruch 5:1-9). And the responsorial psalm invites us to sing joyfully: “What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.” (Ps 126)

In the gospel, Luke presents the figure of John the Baptist, who is well-situated in the history of his time. He is not a mythical figure. John started his ministry in the “fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign” As if that was not enough, Luke mentions the local political and religious rulers of the time. John the Baptist and Jesus are historical figures. They existed and lived in a specific time and place. Thus, at Christmas, we celebrate the birth of someone very real who greatly impacted the history of humankind. Christmas is not the celebration of a myth but the celebration of a birthday - the birthday of the Saviour of the world. It is the celebration of Incarnation, that is the mystery of the Son of God who assumed a human body, being born from the Virgin Mary.

John was sent to prepare the public manifestation of the Messiah. Luke presents John the Baptist as fulfilling the promise made by Isaiah: 

“A voice cries in the wilderness: 

Prepare a way for the Lord”.

We must prepare ourselves for humankind to “see the salvation of God.” This preparation implies repentance and conversion. We are called to prepare ourselves individually and as a community. so that the Lord finds us ready when he comes.

Let us make ours the Paul’s prayer for the Philippians:

“My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11)

STAY AWAKE!

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

During the Advent season, we prepare for the coming of the Lord, when he fulfils his promises and completes his work of salvation. “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” However, his coming will be preceded by a time of great fear and confusion. When that time comes, we must not lose confidence in the Lord since He will not abandon his people. Jesus advises us, “… stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.” 

We must prepare ourselves and be on the alert: 

“‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. (…) Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”

At the beginning of Advent, we are invited to listen to Jesus’ warning. The society we live in has been corrupted: debauchery, drunkenness and the cares of life are found everywhere, and we are easily carried away. The more we speak of justice and freedom, the more we live under oppression and injustice. We are slaves of sin, which pervades our society, leading us to turn our backs on God and put ourselves in the centre of the universe.

Advent must instill in us the hope that comes from God’s promise. While we live here on earth, we walk strengthened by hope., which is the theme for next year’s Jubilee: “Pilgrims of hope”. To grow in hope, we must listen to God’s word and anchor ourselves in him through prayer.

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul insists on the need for us to make more and more progress, increasing our love - the love for one another, confirming our hearts in holiness, so that we may be found “blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.”

Let us pray with the psalm:

Lord, make me know your ways.

  Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

  for you are God my saviour. (Ps 25)

YES, I AM A KING!

XXXIV SUNDAY - CHRIST THE KING - John 18:33-37

Before Pilate, Jesus made this bold statement: “Yes, I am a king.” It sounds like madness, Indeed, how can he claim to be a king? He is under arrest and being tried for treason. He knows his fate: the cross is waiting for him. He never lived in a palace, never sat on a throne, never had an army, that is, he never held power. How can he be a king? And Jesus was well aware of that. Asked if he was the king of the Jews, Jesus made it clear that he had no such pretence. He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, without a guard, accompanied by friends. He was not a threat to Caesar. When people wanted to make him a king, Jesus went into hiding. He did not come to be served but to serve. No, he was not a king like Herod, Tiberius or any other king who may be remembered. Jesus explained to Pilate: “Mine is not a kingdom of this world.” Jesus is a king of a completely different nature. He was born to be a king, and he came into this world “to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” The searchers of truth are his followers. He is the king of truth. In him, we find meaning and purpose for our lives and the world. The rulers of this world impose themselves and exercise authority over the people. Jesus followed a different path: he came “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45) That’s why he calls us to him: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)

The first reading (Daniel 7:13-14) and the second (Apocalypse 1:5-8) give us the true meaning of Jesus kingship. In Daniel, he was announced as the son of man who comes “on the clouds of heaven”. “On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.” In Apocalypse, Jesus Christ is presented under three titles:  the faithful witness, the First-Born from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. “He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father”.He established the Kingdom of God, giving his life for us and reconciling us with God. His kingship is of love and mercy and he calls us to share in his glory.

Today, we acclaim Jesus as King of the Universe. Let us sing in unison with the choirs of heaven:

“To him, then, be glory and power 

for ever and ever. Amen. 

It is he who is coming on the clouds;

everyone will see him”.

COME, LORD JESUS!

XXXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 13:24-32

Throughout human history, people have always questioned themselves about the end of times, that is, the end of the world. It is always conceived of as a "time of great distress" when people must endure all kinds of suffering. It will be a time of chaos, when nature will rebel against itself, bringing in the collapse of the natural order. It is accepted, even by scientists, that the world will end. When will that happen? Science has no answer for that. However, some people claim to have special and secret knowledge that enables them to assert the time and date of such an event. During the most difficult periods of history, eschatological movements have led people to prepare themselves for the incoming end. And so it is during this time of ours. many groups, while predicting the end of the world, call on people to be prepared and take measures to survive.

Christians associate the end of times with the second coming of Jesus Christ. He will come to fulfil the work of salvation, establishing a new order by creating new heavens and new earth. Then, we will be filled with the glory of God, who will be all in all (1 Co 15:28). This crowning of the work of salvation will be preceded by judgment. Seated on his throne of glory, Jesus Christ will reward or punish us according to our choices and behaviour here on earth.

“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.”

That’s why the Christians don’t live in fear but call on the Lord Jesus: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Ap 22:20; 1 Co 16:22)). Do not delay, Lord. Come and bring the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God. As for the time of the end of the world, we should not worry. Nobody knows: “But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.”

For that day - be it the end of our lives or the end of the world, we must be prepared:

Stay awake, praying at all times

for the strength to stand with confidence

before the Son of Man. (Lk21:36)

THE LORD GIVES BREAD TO THE HUNGRY

XXXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 12:38-44

We are invited to look at two widows and learn from them this Sunday.

In the first reading, we find the prophet Elijah being ordered by God to leave the land of Israel and go to Zarephath in Sidon, where he found refuge in a widow’s home. She was destitute, having nothing more than “a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.” (1 King 17:10-16). With so little, in a time of famine, she was preparing for death in the company of her son. However, despite her hopeless situation, at the prophet’s word, she put her trust in the Lord and accepted Elijah in her house.

In the gospel, Jesus calls our attention to the widow who offered the little she had, being left with nothing.

In both cases, the widows are extremely poor and, despite that, they offer everything they have. Putting their trust in the Lord, they do not care about tomorrow. The day of tomorrow belongs to God and he takes care of his servants.

In both of these widows, we find the beatitudes being practised in real life: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3) In fact, the Lucan version applies even better: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Lk 6:20). Being utterly poor, they put their lives in the hands of God, accepting being touched by Him who cares for the orphan and the widow.

The responsorial psalm sang after the first reading expresses this confidence in the Lord:

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,

  who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

  the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

  who raises up those who are bowed down.

It is the Lord who loves the just,

  the Lord, who protects the stranger.

The Lord upholds the widow and orphan

  but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

  Zion’s God, from age to age. (Ps 146)

YOU ARE NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD

XXXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 12:28-34

Twice a day, in the morning and the evening prayers, the faithful Jew recites the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” (words taken from Dt 6:4-6). It is a prayer and a profession of faith with implications for how we live and situate ourselves in society and the world.

However, in this world of ours, society, in general, has lost its reference to God. We live as if He does not exist. If He did, He has died. Indeed, some people proclaim that God is dead. We have thrown Him out of our lives since He was an obstacle to our freedom. With all our hearts and minds, we want to be the masters of our lives and our world. However, despite all our efforts, that is no more than wishful thinking. At any moment, the raw power of nature shows itself, escaping any attempt at controlling it. A society without God is a society that has lost its way. Time and again, we go through the experience of Adam and Eve. In their audacity to become gods, they rejected God’s Law and established themselves as the rule by which good and evil can be measured. And society turned upside down: evil became good, and good became evil.

We must reassert God’s centrality in our lives and society. When we live by faith, God alone is the absolute, and everything else is relative. And our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, sets us free, accepting us as his beloved children.

Guiding themselves by the Torah, the Jewish People found 613 commandments that must be followed. One may ask: how could they follow so many commandments? And which one is the first and the most important? During Jesus’ time, that was a big point of discussion. That’s why a scribe asked Jesus: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus answered, reciting the Shema. The greatest commandment is: “… you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” We may say that this is the only commandment since the second one is the natural sequence of the first: “You must love your neighbour as yourself.” We cannot love God without loving our neighbour.

Jesus makes it clear that we do not need so many commandments. Two are enough, and these two can be reduced to a single word: love. God is love, and those who live their lives in God live them in love. If we do that, then we are on the way to the Kingdom of God.