Homily for Wednesday 5th December 2018
_“It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” *Isaiah 25:9*_
_“ And they all ate and were satisfied, and they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.” *Matthew 15:37*_
As at the time of Isaiah, the people who listened to him could only imagine what he was talking about. Nonetheless, as we see in the Gospel passage, the prophecy of Isaiah became a reality in the feeding of the multitude.
Dear friends, the message for us today is very simple: Everything that God has revealed in the Bible must surely come to pass. God never fails. As long as God has said it, it must surely happen. God can never lie. His promises are not empty words; they can be firmly relied upon.
One beautiful song puts it this way: “The Steadfast Love of the Lord never ceaseth, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, new every morn, great is thy faithfulness O Lord, great is thy faithfulness.”
Even our Responsorial Psalm today sings of God as a shepherd who never lets his sheep down. A shepherd who gives his sheep repose along fresh and green pastures, a shepherd who guides the sheep along the right path. A shepherd who never abandons his sheep even when they walk through the shadow of death. A shepherd who prepares a table for the sheep even in the presence of the enemies.
This is the God we serve. A God who promised to save mankind through the prophets and lived up to His word by sending His Son Jesus Christ to us. God is Faithful. He never fails. Christmas is a time to remind ourselves that God is a promise-keeper.
I perfectly understand if things appear very tough for you right now. I perfectly understand with that young man or that young woman who has developed not only hatred for God himself but hatred for the church and its ministers due to some disappointments in the past.
But you know, even in the midst of all the difficulty you are facing now, God has not changed a bit. God has not failed you yet. God cannot fail you otherwise, He wouldn’t deserve the name, God. Even what you consider as a failure on God’s part right now is part of the green pastures, the right path, the table he prepares for you his sheep.
Another song drives home the point: “God is not a man, his words will surely come to pass, he would never fail, his word will come to pass.” God is always answering our prayers. It is just that sometimes His answers come in packages we need to unwrap. When I feel down, when I am tempted to start asking God “Why this or why that?” I always remind myself of this verse: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him.” Romans 8:28.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, deepen my faith and conviction in your word. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the First week of advent. Bible Study: Isaiah 25:6-10, Psalm 23:1-6 and Matthew 15:29-37.
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