Homily for Monday 10th December 2018
_“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 message of God to us. It is a Christmas message of glad tidings. It says: “Comfort my people.” Even though their present condition at that time was as a result of their sinfulness, their punishment would not last forever. Just when God could have wiped out mankind from the earth again, He decided instead to send His Son Jesus Christ.
The action of God upon mankind is the exact scenario Jesus paints in our Gospel passage this morning. God is the shepherd who goes in search of a lost sheep and we are that lost sheep. We have gone astray in search of the pleasures and disordered appetites of this world. We have often acted like stubborn sheep who despite hearing the voice of the shepherd decide to do the opposite. But God never leaves us at our own peril. He comes searching for us.
Why does God come for us? The joy of finding the lost sheep is always greater and better compared with the joy of seeing the lost sheep punished. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. This is where we humans are so different from God, while we derive pleasure in seeing justice served to the wicked, God rejoices instead in seeing the wicked come to repentance.
If it brings joy to God to see the lost found, we should question ourselves if we realize we are not happy seeing the lost found. We should question ourselves if we find it difficult to accept a repentant sinner. We should really examine our hearts if we cannot put people’s past behind them and relate with them as humans rather than labels.
For God to come in the form of a baby is a testimony to the compassion of God. When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate God in the form of a baby who comes not to judge but to invite us to repentance.
Let us not be like stubborn sheep refusing to follow the shepherd back to the fold. No matter how sweet sin is, it is never sweeter than righteousness. 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 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, Psalm 96:1-13 Matthew 18:12-14).
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