LET US ADORE THE LORD

HOMILY FOR EPIPHANY SUNDAY YEAR C 

R1: Ecclesiasticus 24:1-2,12-16

R/P:Psalm 147:12-15,19-20

R2:Ephesians 1:3-6,15-18

Gospel: John 1:1-18

LET US ADORE THE LORD

The Epiphany of the Lord is the Feast day that we celebrate the Theophany, the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. The word “Epiphany” is taken from the Greek word (epiphanos) which means appearance or manifestation or showing forth. Epiphany then is the self - revelation of God and his Son to the world. This feast also celebrates the coming, the visit of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

In the first reading Isaiah 60: 1 – 6 mention is made of the non- Jews bringing their gifts in homage to God of Israel. Also the passage celebrates the Divine light emanating from Jerusalem and foresees all the nations acknowledging that light.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians said he has been entrusted by God with grace and by a revelation he has been given the knowledge of the mystery. We Christians have been entrusted with the message of light of Christ and we have to let this light shine through us (Mtt. 5:14 – 16)

In the gospel, the Magi who were Persian Priests who served kings and have skills of interpreting dreams and watching movements of the stars came to worship the new born King. They came with the gift of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The Gold representing His Kingship as well as His divinity, the Frankincense a symbol of His Priestly role; and Myrrh a prefiguration of His death and embalming. 

According to Fr. Anthony Kadavil, the Epiphany can be understood as a symbol for our pilgrimage through life to Christ. The Feast invites all to see in ourselves the image of the Magi, a people on a journey to Christ. Today’s Gospel also tells us the story of the Magi’s encounter with the evil King Herod. This encounter symbolizes three reactions to Jesus’ birth; hatred, indifference and adoration. 

According to Pope Francis, worship – adoration is the end and goal of the journey of the Magi. The focus of the Solemnity of Epiphany reminds us that once we lose the sense of worship, we lose our direction in Christian life, which is a journey towards the Lord, not towards ourselves. When we are filled with hatred like King Herod who wanted to kill the Child Jesus, we cannot worship the Lord. When we are indifference like the Chief Priests and Scribes, we are incapable of worship. 

Adoration according to Pope Francis means putting the Lord at the center not ourselves. Worshiping God frees us from slavery to the Idols of today, which must not be worshipped; such as, the god of money, the god of consumerism, the god of pleasure, the god of success, the god of self. Today we are therefore called to surrender ourselves and like the Magi worship God; those who fail to worship God either worship themselves or created thing. May God deliver us from every form of Idolatry and lead us into His divine light. Amen

Reflection by:

Rev. Fr. Henry Ogueri, SMMM

CHOSEN CHANNEL OF SALVATION

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C

R1: MICAH 5:2 – 59

R2: HEBREWS 10:5 – 10

GOSPEL: LUKE 1:39 – 45

Theme: CHOSEN CHANNELS OF SALVATION

The Lord our God works in mysterious ways. His ways are not our ways and his thoughts are different from our thoughts. (Cf Isaiah 55:8) Often, God works through means and ways we least expect. His blessing blows to wherever it pleases, such that we can not claim autonomy of God providence.

Before the birth of Jesus, many people in Israel were waiting for a king that will come through mighty ways (probably from a wealthy family, a prestigious background, from the lineage of known warriors and kings) but God chose the lowly town of Bethlehem and the poor family of Mary and Joseph to bring forth the saviour of mankind.

God’s power can manifest itself through any means. It can be in our unbelief, weaknesses; as St. Paul rightly said, “For my power is greatest when you are weak” (2Corinthian 12:9). We have to dispose ourselves for the direction of God for the work of salvation as Virgin Mary did in the second Reading of today. We have to allow ourselves to be filled by Holy Spirit and in turn be channels of dispensing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that his impact be felt in the lives of the people we meet. By so doing we become channels of salvation to others no matter how little or lowly we are.

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit at the greeting of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that was why she was able to recognize our Lord Jesus in the womb of Blessed Virgin. When we allow God to take control of our lives, to fill us with his power, He can turn that which is weak in us to be strong, that which is sinful in us to be Holy. For God does not call the qualified but qualifies those He has called. (1 Corinthian 1:27:29).

As we continue to wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus, let us always open our hearts in readiness to welcome Him. Let us never be in doubt of his mercy and goodness towards us. Amen.

Peace be with you

Reflection by

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nlebedum,SMMM

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVE?

HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  YEAR C

THEME: WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

R1:Zephaniah 3:14-18

R/P:Isaiah 12

R2:Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel: Lk 3:10-18

The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” This name is taken from the entrance antiphon for today's Sunday Mass, which is also echoed in today's second reading from St Paul's letter to the Philippians. Some people mark this Sunday by lighting salvific candle instead of a purple one on their Advent wreath. It is a reminder that the Advent season is a season of joy because our salvation is already at hand.

There is an invitation for us to rejoice and savour the imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the first reading of the day. A saviour was promised to Israel and the coming of this saviour is at hand. As we rejoice in anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are also invited to make ready our hearts to receive the Lord when He comes. In preparation for the parousia of the lorL, one has to have deep introspection into one's life with the question of the day. What must I do to be saved?

This question was reechoed in the gospel of the day. In the gospel, John the baptist teaches the path of repentance and announced Christ's imminent coming. He prepares the people of God and in proxy, he is preparing us to make smooth the rough paths of our lives so that the saviour might find a homely heart when He comes. The act of Christian preparedness is what this season of advent requires. The question " what shall I do to be saved" should sound in our minds as we prepare for the Lord's coming.

However, John the Baptist Challenged the crowds last week,to show evidence of their repentance. However, in today's gospel,the crowds ask John for specifics. What evidence of repentance is required? John replies by naming concrete actions: 

i. People should share their food and cloaks, ii. Just tax collections

iii. Soldiers should act fairly.

The concern for justice is the hallmark of Luke's Gospel.

When the crowd begins to wonder if John was the messiah, he was humble enough to interprete his baptism and makes it clear that his ministry was in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Such humility is needed in our churches and in our world today. We must understand the roles we are called to play in our salvific mission and excute them well. It is the great mystery of our salvation that God permits and even ask for human cooperation in His divine plans.

Let us therefore, ask the good Lord to accord us the humility to cooperate with His divine plans in our lives. We continue to ask for a credible fidelity that propels us to examine our lives so as to level all mountains and exult all valleys of our lives and meet the saviour of the world in good standing.

As we do all this, may the good Lords bless His words in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Reflection by

Rev. Fr. Peter Claver Eze, SMMM

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

HOMILY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR (C)

Theme: PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD.

R1: Baruch 5:1-9

R/P: Psalm 125:1-6

R2: Philippians 1:4-6,8-11

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

The season of Advent revolves around four major themes: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Each of these themes cuts across the four weeks of this intense preparation of receiving God the Son whom the Father out of love for man has made Him to share in our humanity.

 This week which has “peace” at the centre begins with an invitation from the desert prophet John the Baptist who invites us to preparate while making reference to the prophecy of Isaiah. (cf. Matthew 3:3). As we are joyfully waiting for the coming of the Child Jesus and for His great return (the Parousia) – the two arms of Advent season, we are being admonished to make our paths straight and fill every pothole that must have been dug in our hearts. These potholes are malice, hatred, envy, lies, and every other corrupted practices. 

Keeping in mind that every new wine needs a new wine skin, if not the new wine will burst the old wine skin and the wine is spilled (cf. Mark 2:22), the season of Advent is a moment of spiritual renewal, to let the past go and embrace the future with a new spirit. That is why the first reading reechoed the wish of God upon us saying: “Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory of God.” (Baruch 5:1). 

Here Baruch reiterates the prophecy of Isaiah, calling for a change of heart and renewal (Isaiah 52:1).  As the Jews of old looked forward with hope to that day when the Messiah will come, we with all eagerness look back to that day with joy when God Divinized Humanity. What a great love has He? As Evangelist John says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” (John 3:16). That same love of His sustains us in difficult moments, it gives us comfort in distress and peace of mind beyond human telling. Let us not forget our sinfulness and short comings since the beginning of this year.

 Let us ask ourselves, how much time we have given to God in sincerity?  How have we used our offices and status to cheat or misguide others? These and many other similar questions should be considered as we continue to wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord. Peace! Be with you.

Reflection by:

Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM