DAILY HOMILIES

Like Jesus, the Good Shepherd who came all the way to save us even though we deserve to die, we must learn to be more sympathetic towards sinners (those who hurt us). Jesus said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:48). Christian perfection imitates God, who leaves the ninety-nine in search of the one. Instead of spending time only with your friends (those who love you), Jesus wants us to reach out to those who hurt us.

Even after preparing Mary, God still allowed her to accept or reject His plan. Hence, He sent the Angel Gabriel to seek her consent by announcing that she would be His Mother. The fact that God has showered us with sure gifts and blessings does not remove our free will. God called you before you were born, but would not force you to say “Yes” to His call. God, who made you without your cooperation, will not save you without your cooperation.

As people drew near to John the Baptist, the religious leaders of the day arrived. John the Baptist called them a brood of vipers! Jesus later explained this further when he said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.” (Matthew 23:27)

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus shows compassion through tangible actions. He preached to enlighten the people and free them from the darkness of ignorance. To release them from the chains of sickness, Jesus healed the ill. He also freed those possessed by demons. When Jesus realised the scale of the task, He appointed the twelve apostles to continue the mission.

Life is tough, and nothing good comes easily. Bad things happen without warning. Life will always give you reasons to complain. Problems are never fully resolved. But how do we stay alive and succeed? Faith! Believe and continue believing. Prayer works. God cares. Jesus warned them not to publicise this healing, but the two blind men could not keep it to themselves. Jesus wants us to love him, worship him as God, and not approach him like a magician. Faith is not just about receiving from God but also about remaining steadfast when things are difficult.

While Isaiah describes God as the “rock” to illustrate His unshakable nature, Jesus uses the same word to show how unshakable we become when we obey His word. There is a link between trusting in God (the eternal Rock) and finding peace of mind (becoming like a Rock). Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock.”

Things may appear very tough for you right now; you may have felt disappointed in God, the Church or its ministers for not meeting your expectations. Nevertheless, know that God has not changed; He is still Faithful and has not failed you yet. Christmas is a reminder that God has not yet given up on humankind.

During this season of Advent, we must continually purge ourselves of the corruption of pride. If God could bring Himself to our level to save us, how willing am I to come down to the level of my subordinates? How willing am I to acknowledge my nothingness before God, like the Roman Centurion who did not allow Jesus to come under his roof?

Prayer is never a one-way traffic. When we pray, we pour out our hearts completely to God, but we must also be attentive to His inspirations. The centurion listened to Jesus. He heard him saying, “I will come and heal him.” Most times, we don’t listen when we pray; our troubles weigh us down so much that we never hear God’s gentle voice, assuring us of His understanding and commitment to solving our problems. God has not stopped speaking today; we only need to be more watchful and attentive.

In St. Paul’s words, Advent is a time to “avoid drunkenness, licentiousness (anything goes), quarrelling, jealousy, and indulgence of the flesh.” As Isaiah states, this is a time to allow the mountain of the Lord to be established as the highest of the mountains. In other words, this is a time for us to pay more attention to the things of God, to put God first, and to talk about God, so that those living in darkness (those who think that there is no God) may, through our celebration, begin to recognise and worship God.

How can we rise above worries and the cares of life? Jesus tells us: “Watch at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place.” Prayer is the key to avoiding worry. When we don’t pray enough, we begin to carry unnecessary burdens. Remember that song: “What a friend we have in Jesus…” A line in that song says, “Oh, what needless pains we bear, all because we do not carry our burdens to Jesus.”

God is a king who can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who made us and sustains our lives. Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will not.” Let us renew our faith and confidence in Him daily, casting off our fear of evil spirits, for we know that no one is greater than God.