Homily
for December 12, 2017.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and
proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed,
she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:1-3.
Today’s
first reading is a repetition of last Sunday’s reading. It is a message of
hope, a message of comfort for the people who at this time were exiles in
Babylon. The message of God to the people through the Prophet Isaiah was to
“Comfort my people.” The message was to let them know that even though their
present condition at that time was as a result of their sinfulness, their
punishment would not last forever.
This is
exactly the scenario Jesus paints in the Gospel passage this morning about a
shepherd who goes in search of a lost sheep. Only stubborn sheep get lost and
their refusal to follow the command of the shepherd makes them go astray but
then at the end of the day the shepherd goes to find them and bring them back
to the fold.
The
reunion of the lost sheep and the shepherd always gives room for great
rejoicing and gladness – foreshadowing the joy of the Angels and Saints when at
last we are able to make it to heaven.
Like the
Israelites who were exiled in Babylon, we all are exiles on earth far from our
real home and this Christmas, God is coming to us in the tender form of a baby.
He will be reborn in our hearts to further prepare us for our real home in
heaven. He will come to us despite our sinfulness to seek us out and restore
our dignity as children of God.
For God to
come in the form of a baby is a testimony to the compassion of God as a baby is
harmless and loves everyone freely. He has not come to judge us but to invite
us. he has come to reform our lives, to give us a reason and a motivation to
always say “Yes” to His Will.
Like the
lost sheep refusing to follow the shepherd back to the fold, we could sometimes
become stuck in sin and worldliness and keep procrastinating the day of our
repentance but we must realize today is the only day we’ve got as tomorrow is
never in our hands to control.
Our life
is short as Isaiah says “All flesh is grass.” What then will it profit me, if I
become stranded in muddy waters deceiving myself it is chocolate when Jesus has
invited me to a fountain flowing with rich pure water?
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, as you prepare to be born again in our hearts this Christmas,
we too may become born again in the Spirit. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the
2nd Week of Advent. Bible Study: Isaiah 40:1-11, Matthew 18:12-14).
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