COME, LORD, AND SAVE US

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Matthew 11:2-11

On this third Sunday of Advent, we are invited to have a good look at John the Baptist, whom Jesus exalted as the greatest of “the children born of women”. He was an upright man who did not swerve right or left according to the convenience of the moment. He remained faithful to his calling and paid for it with his life. In his preaching, he was straightforward, speaking plainly and addressing the issues with clarity. His life, lived in the desert under harsh conditions, was a protest against the status quo, which he considered a betrayal of the covenant. To the people who came to him, he spoke as he lived, calling them to repentance and conversion. He was aware of the mission entrusted to him: to be a voice in the desert, calling out to prepare the ways of the Lord. At Jesus’ baptism, John recognised him to be the Messiah. However, despite his sincerity and honesty, John was carried away by the common ideas about the Messiah, whom he expected to come with power to judge and inflict punishment on all those who refused to repent and convert. He announced that the Messiah would come with an axe in his hands to cut down the trees that produce no fruit of justice and faithfulness. Jesus did not fit into that picture. He did not show forth the wrath of God, but his mercy and love. Before this unexpected turn, John had his misgivings. Maybe he was mistaken; maybe they should wait for another to be the Messiah. Jesus answered John with reassuring words, telling him and all of us, “Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.”

John was great, but he remained at the threshold of the New Testament. He belonged to and completed the line of prophets who guided people on the way of righteousness and strengthened them with God’s promises of a Redeemer.

In the first reading, Isaiah reaffirms the Promise: 

Look, your God is coming,

vengeance is coming,

the retribution of God;

he is coming to save you.’

And with the psalm we pray, “Come, Lord, and save us.”

This assurance of the Lord’s coming gives us strength to go on walking along the path to salvation:

Strengthen all weary hands,

steady all trembling knees

and say to all faint hearts,

‘Courage! Do not be afraid. (Is 35:1-6, 10)

We are invited to rejoice, because we “shall see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God.”

In the second reading, taken from James, we are invited to be patient:

“Be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.” (James 5:7-10)

PREPARE A WAY FOR THE LORD.

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Romans 15:4-9

This year, we have a double reason to be guided and strengthened by hope. Advent is always a season of hope, when we hear the promises being repeated with the assurance that they will be fulfilled. At the same time, we are still in the Jubilee of Hope.

In this Sunday’s first reading, we hear the voice of Isaiah announcing the coming of the Messiah, who will bring peace and harmony among all creatures of the universe. There will be no place for enmity and hatred, because a new world will be established based on truth and justice. The Messiah “judges the wretched with integrity, and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked.”

The prophet announces that the whole world will be “filled with the knowledge of the Lord”. That’s why “Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips.” (Is 11:1-10)

Christ came to fulfil the promise, but the promise has not yet been completed. Christ initiated the work of salvation, but the work of salvation continues to this day. We wait for his second coming, when we will be set free, and the whole creation will show forth the glory of God.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul teaches that, in the Scriptures, everything was written to teach us about hope. Hope strengthens our hearts so that we don’t give up, being sure of God’s help. By God’s help, we may follow the example of Christ, who teaches us to be tolerant with each other, “so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 15:4-9).

John the Baptist shows the way for hope to bear fruit in us: we must prepare the ways of the Lord; we need to follow the path of repentance and conversion. Guided by John, let us 

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight. (Mt 3:1-12)

LET YOUR ARMOUR BE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Matthew 24:37-44

With the first Sunday of Advent, we begin the new liturgical year. We have been celebrating the Jubilee under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, and this theme is well connected with Advent. We live as pilgrims, moving towards our eternal home with our gaze and our hearts turned to the future when our liberation will be complete. We are waiting for the second coming of the Lord, as we prepare to celebrate his first coming. He came in human flesh to experience in his body the pain and the suffering of the human condition. He humbled himself to show us the way to eternal glory.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul offers words of encouragement and hope: “The time has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.” We must live as children of the light, putting away the works of darkness. If we listen carefully, Paul's words sound very relevant today. Deep down, people have changed very little, being enslaved by the same vices: “Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy.” Strengthened by hope, we must fight the good fight, and that is only possible if Christ is our armour: “Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 13:11-14).

In the gospel, Jesus compares our generation to the time of Noah, when people only cared about enjoying life: “For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away.” They were blinded by their selfish behaviour, being unable to read the signs of danger that surrounded them. The Lord is coming, and we must be ready: “So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming.”

When the Lord comes, he will complete his work of salvation. Then, the glory of God will transform us and manifest itself in us. The Kingdom of God will be established, and peace will reign forever.

When the Lord comes, 

He will wield authority over the nations

and adjudicate between many peoples;

these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,

their spears into sickles.

Nation will not lift sword against nation,

there will be no more training for war. (Is 2:1-5)

As we begin the season of Advent, let us listen to the invitation of the Prophet Isaiah:

Come,

let us walk in the light of the Lord.

HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

XXXIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - CHRIST THE KING - Colossians 1:12-20

Every year, on the last Sunday of ordinary time, we celebrate Christ the King.

In the Old Testament, David is presented as the role model for all kings, and his figure points towards the Messiah, who would come from David’s family and sit on his throne forever. In the first reading, we are told that the elders of Israel invited David to be their king and, after making a pact with him, anointed him king of Israel. Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit to be Prophet, Priest and King.

Whenever we use words like 'king', 'kingship' and 'kingdom', we must be aware of the danger of being misunderstood. Jesus was not anointed to become a king like Herod or an emperor like Tiberius. He yields kingship over all those who seek the truth and walk along the path of life with love. Jesus is proclaimed king on the cross. It may sound like a joke, but it is no joke. Jesus’ cross is proof of what a kingship based on power is capable of: disdaining the truth and killing the innocent. Of the two criminals hanging on the cross, one of them confessed his sin and recognised Jesus as the king who welcomes us into his kingdom for us to enjoy paradise with Him. By shedding his blood for us, Jesus opens the gates of heaven so that we may enter in.

Looking at Christ the King, Paul invites us to give “thanks to the Father who has made it possible for you to join the saints and with them to inherit the light.” Indeed, “He has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.”

It is in this attitude of thanksgiving before Christ, who redeems us, that Paul presents a Christological hymn in which we find the true meaning of Jesus’ kingship.

Jesus Christ is the image of the unseen God.

All things were created through him and for him.

He holds all things in unity.

Now the Church is his body; he is its head.

God wanted all perfection to be found in him

and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,

everything in heaven and everything on earth,

when he made peace by his death on the cross.

Full of joy, let us sing together with the psalmist:

I rejoiced when I heard them say:

  ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

And now our feet are standing

  within your gates, O Jerusalem. (Psalm 122)

YOUR ENDURANCE WILL WIN YOUR LIVES

XXXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 21:5-19

In this Sunday’s readings, the gospel acclamation gives us the theme for this Sunday:

“Stand erect, hold your heads high,

because your liberation is near at hand.”

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the readings invite us to look to the end of times. We must be prepared for the Day of the Lord, which will come “burning like a furnace”, according to the prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:19-20). Before such an outcome, people tremble with fear. How will the end of the world be? Will there be chaos, violence, endless suffering and agonising death? In Malachi’s words, all that is worthless will be burnt up. 

The gospel speaks of the destruction of the Temple: “the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.” This would be one of the big accusations presented against Jesus during his trial before the High Priest. However, Jesus’ words proved true, but the Temple's destruction did not signal the end of the world. “There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.” And there will be wars between nations, but that is not the end of the world yet. While in this world, Jesus’ disciples must be prepared to suffer rejection and persecution. And “that will be your opportunity to bear witness.” At such a time, we must show endurance, and “Your endurance will win you your lives.”

About the day of the Lord, we must not allow ourselves to be deceived. Many will appear claiming to be the Christ. Jesus warns us: “Refuse to join them.” They are false prophets. We must remain faithful to Jesus Christ up to the end.

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD

XXXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17

On 9th November, we celebrate the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, which is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. In the liturgical calendar, this celebration is a feast and takes precedence over the Sunday celebration, thus manifesting the important role of this basilica in the history of the Church. After legalising Christianity in 313, Constantine gave the Laterani family palace to the Bishop of Rome. The palace would become the pope’s residence. And the basilica was built there, being consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I.  It was dedicated to Christ the Saviour and later also to St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist. Being the cathedral of Rome, it is considered the mother of all churches.

Today’s celebration invites us to reflect upon the role of the Church/Temple in our Christian life and in the life of the Christian community. The temple is both the house of God and the house of the community who are His people. It facilitates a personal encounter with God. There, it is easier to become aware of God’s mystery. In there, God’s word is proclaimed and His mysteries are celebrated. At one voice, gathered together as a people, we sing God’s praise. However, we should not forget that the temple exists for our sake and our convenience. We must always be on the alert so that we don’t abuse the temple of the Lord. Moved by the zeal of the house of God, Jesus took a drastic action, expelling the money changers and those who were selling animals for the sacrifices. The temple is built by human hands and can be corrupted, like anything else touched by them. When touched by corruption, the temple loses its purpose, and it will end up being destroyed.  

Jesus presents himself as being the true temple of God that will not be touched by decay. By killing him on the cross, they will try to destroy him once and for all, but he will rise on the third day. It is from Jesus, the true temple of God, that the living water will come, bringing life and salvation to all. It is in Jesus that the prophecy of Ezekiel will be fulfilled.

In the second reading, Paul tells the Corinthians that we are God’s temple, a sacred temple that must be treated with respect. If we destroy this temple, we will be answerable to God, and God will bring us down. Paul tells the Corinthians that, in their case, by announcing Jesus Christ, he was the architect. And the foundation is Jesus Christ. “For the foundation, nobody can lay any other than the one which has already been laid, that is Jesus Christ.” (1 Co 3:9-11, 16-17).

MY SOUL CLINGS TO YOU

ALL SOULS DAY - Luke 7:11-17

This year, All Souls Day falls on a Sunday. Confronted with death, we look forward to resurrection. Death will not have the last word, and life will come out victorious. Whenever death comes our way, we must remember that we are called to life, and life will reach its plenitude in Jesus Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life”. (Jn 11:25)

Reading the gospels, we discover that, time and again, Jesus is touched by other people’s suffering. While entering the town of Nain, Jesus saw the funeral of a young man being carried for burial. He was the only son of a widow who remained helpless and defenceless. Faced with the suffering of that mother, Jesus felt compassion and addressed her with reassuring words: “Do not cry.” Then, he ordered the young man to get up, “and Jesus gave him to his mother.” This act of mercy to that mother is also a promise of resurrection and life to all of us.

On All Souls Day, aware of the deep bond that unites us to all of our dead, we remember them and pray for them. We entrust them to God’s mercy, that He may welcome them in His Kingdom. In the first reading, taken from 2 Maccabees, we learn from Judas, who sent the money from a collection "to Jerusalem to have a sacrifice for sin offered” for those who had died (2 Maccabees 12:42-45). Before death, faced with our own fragility and mortality, we recognise our sinfulness and put ourselves in God’s hands. We know that our lives go beyond death, and we ask the Lord to receive us with welcoming arms. Thus, we pray for our dead and offer for them Jesus’ sacrifice, a sacrifice for the redeeming of sins and reconciliation.

And we end with the words of Paul to the Philippians: 

For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe. (Philippians 3:20-21).

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.