Homily for Saturday 1ST December 2018
_“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” *Revelation 22:7*_
For anyone who has read the whole Bible, he or she would be familiar with this statement which actually occurs three times in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible: “Behold, I and coming soon.”
You still remember that song: Soon and Very soon, we are going to meet the lord… soon and very soon… soon and very soon…. Soon and very soon…. we are going to meet the Lord….alleluia …..alleluia ….we are going to meet the Lord.
Anyway, I think the song can also be understood to mean: “Soon and very soon, the Baby Jesus is coming to meet with us… soon and very soon…. Soon and very soon…. Soon and very soon, the Baby Jesus Christ is coming to meet with us… alleluia … alleluia… the Child Jesus is coming to us.”
The fact that Christ will come to us very soon sets the tone for Advent; the season of preparation for Christmas. From this day, we shall be singing with the Psalmist: “Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus.”
Unfortunately rather than prepare to receive the baby Jesus, many persons including Christians only prepare for the festivities surrounding the end of the year. Christmas for many is not so much about the person of Jesus Christ but about free holiday time, party time, drinking competitions and so on. No wonder, this period is characterized by a lot of anxiety and evil. Everyone seems to be in a hurry somewhere, traffic is always unbearable these days, prices of basic goods and services are tripling by the day all in the name of Christmas meanwhile Christ has nothing to do with any of these evils associated with this period.
Hear what Jesus says in today’s Gospel passage: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life” instead “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Forget about painting your house and start painting your heart white instead, forget about organizing a party and start organizing a truly spiritual event that Christ himself would be pleased with. Don’t go drinking or committing evil because others are doing it, spend that free time of yours in the chapel, in front of the Blessed Sacrament or in the hospital, in the home for the elderly or amongst orphans; these are places where you will find the Baby Jesus whose birthday we are celebrating.
Don’t worry if you don’t have the money or hamper to dash the people you will go home to visit (or those who will come to visit you), instead worry about the fact that Christ is not even mentioned in your discussions during such visits.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, as I prepare for your coming this Christmas, may it be a truly spiritual experience for me. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelations 22:1-9, Psalm 95:1-7 and Luke 21:34-36).
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