Homily
for December 17, 2017.
“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Our second reading today happens to my most favourite passage of the
Bible so much so that I wrote a book based on it. On this third Sunday of
Advent (also known as Gaudate – Rejoice – Sunday), I have decided to title our
reflection with the very words I have always used as final greetings in the
daily homilies for the past three years now. Not only are these words a candid
summary of our message today, they contain within them strong lessons I like to
repeat to myself again and again.
*Be Happy.*
What does this phrase mean? What message was St. Paul trying to pass
across when he said “Rejoice Always”? To understand what St. Paul is saying,
bear in mind that he is not merely expressing a wish but he is actually giving
us an instruction. St. Paul is basically saying: “I command you to be happy at
all times.”
Dear friends, the truth is that happiness is not something that happens
to us, it is something we decide to be. Happiness is not a question of luck or
chance, it is not a matter of once-in-a-while, No! It is a question of
all-the-time. Happiness is our natural mode of existence. We don’t have to pray
for happiness because God already created us happy. The smile of a child even
for no reason at all is a clear proof of this fact!
When we are unhappy, it is not as a result of our circumstances, it is
rather that case that we are deliberately holding back our happiness and blaming
it on our circumstances in life. In such moments, all we need to do is to reach
down to our inner self and realize that our circumstances do not define but
merely decorate our life.
*Live Positive*
Having said that happiness is not something that happens to us but
something we do for ourselves, the next question would be: How? St. Paul gives
the answer immediately. He says: “Pray constantly and Give Thanks in all
circumstances.” Dear friends, the key to unlocking our unlimited potential for lasting
happiness is GRATITUDE.
To be grateful is to be positively minded and to be deliberately
thankful every day is to live a life of positivity and happiness. An ungrateful
person is forever an unhappy person. Gratitude is not something we do when
things are moving fine for us; it is something that should be part of our lives
IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. St. Paul says: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
If I can give thanks to God when things are not working, if I can give
thanks when life is being unfair to me, it I can give thanks when my prayers
are not answered, it means I am choosing to be happy. And because my happiness
is not determined by my circumstances, I can actually be happy always.
Like I wrote in that book, “whatever any moment contains, accept it as
though you had chosen it.” Happy people are those who are grateful for their
place in life, they strive always to be their very best rather than just trying
to be better than others. Happy people do not see life as a competition and
they don’t believe in merely outshining others. John the Baptist was one of
such. See how he described himself in our Gospel passage today; as just a
voice, as one even too low to untie the sandals of Jesus. Can I say this about
myself with reference to others?
*Have Faith.*
Attempting (or hoping) to be happy all the time without sound Faith is driving
a car completely blindfolded. Faith is like an engine room; it is the power
house; the source of our spiritual energies. Faith in God is what fuels our
prayer. As Paul would say: “PRAY CONSTANTLY….” How can we pray constantly when
we don’t believe God hears or has the power to grant what we pray for?
Our first reading today contains the very passage that Jesus read when
he was given the scroll of Scriptures to read in Luke, chapter 4, from verse
18. Hearing this same passage from Isaiah today is a reassurance for us that
this Jesus whose birthday we are preparing to celebrate is beyond every doubt
the promised Messiah.
Indeed, every time we go down on our kneels to pray, let us begin by
reminding ourselves of these words (in today’s first reading) – that Jesus came
to this earth to bring us good tidings, to bind up our broken hearts, to
proclaim liberty to our captivity, to free us from our imprisonment and to announce
God’s favour. In fact, Isaiah bursts into singing. “I will greatly rejoice in
the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God.” No wonder it is always best to begin prayer
with singing; the process of singing (real singing i.e. meditating on the words
of the song) helps us reactivate our faith.
*It is Well With You*
Once again this last phrase of my daily greeting can be found in today’s
second reading. It is a Pauline Prayer: “May the God of peace sanctify you
wholly and keep your whole being; spirit, soul and body free from all fault at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
Learn to say “it is well with me” all the time. Believe it is well with
you. Believe that no matter what life throws at you, it is well. I will succeed.
I will overcome. I will make heaven.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, fill me with joy. Amen.
Happy Sunday.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Third
Sunday of Advent. Year B. Bible Study: Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11, 1st Thessalonians
5:16-24 and John 1:6-8.19-28).
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