Homily For The 2nd Sunday Of Advent Year B.

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Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11; Psalm 85:9-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

“PREPARE THE WAY!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today the church celebrates the Second Sunday of Advent. We are gradually edging closer to the Christmas season. The season of Advent is for us to make adequate preparations. I just hope we are all making good use of this opportunity to put our house in order.

·      A visit to many houses now and public places will reveal to you that we are in a special season and that something special is about to happen, which is the coming of the son of God at Christmas. Christmas trees and Christmas lights adorn everywhere making our homes and public places really beautiful.

·      The Advent Season is an opportunity for us to decorate our hearts to make them ready to receive Jesus at Christmas and to prepare for the end of the age. The greatest tragedy of Christian witness will be to finish most of our physical preparation without any attempt to make any spiritual preparation.

·      Our readings today challenge us with the theme “prepare the way”. When a big man dies in a village where there has been no government presence for ages, the burial of that big man is put on hold so that his family and the entire village can make adequate preparations one of which might include grading the road leading to the man’s house. In grading the road, mountains are levelled, and valleys are filled to make the place smooth.

·      Friends in the Christ, in this season of Advent, no big man has died but we must be prepared to receive Jesus at all times. The watchword is vigilance and not to allow ourselves to be distracted by the frenzy of the season. We must keep our eyes on the target.

·      In the First reading (Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11), the Prophet Isaiah comes to us with a subtle voice of consolation. He speaks to us who have been ravaged by sin and hardship, we who are depressed because of unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, we who have suffered stagnation, we who have suffered disappointments and broken marriages, that the Lord who is coming will put an end to our pains and sorrows and our iniquities will be pardoned.

·      Before we can enjoy all of these as mentioned in the first reading, we too must do our part which is to be adequately prepared. We must make straight his path and our own path. We must reconcile with one another; we must forgive those who have hurt us so that we too can enter into God’s mercy. The level of spiritual preparation we put in determines our level of blessing at Christmas.

·      The Gospel reading (Mark 1:1-8), also re-echoed the words of the Prophet Isaiah but this time referring to John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. His purpose was to prepare the people to receive Jesus.

·      As a priest and a fellow Christian, we are messengers to each other, reminding ourselves of the need to be prepared and to make straight his path. Since the one who is coming will not only forgive us of our sins but also grant us the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

·      Friends in Christ, while we are waiting and preparing the way for the Lord and making his path smooth by renouncing our sins and reconciling with one another, the waiting may become too long, discouraging, demanding, and even boring, but we should not give up but remain focused.

·      In the second reading (2 Peter 3:8-14), we are told that God is outside the confines of time therefore “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet. 3:8). Hence, the Lord is not slow, he will come in his time and he will fulfill his promises to us.

·      Dearly beloved in Christ, the coming of the Lord is imminent and his delay must be seen as the Lord giving us an opportunity for adequate preparation. “Think of the Lord’s patience as your opportunity to be saved” (2 Pet. 3:15). The Lord will come but he will come upon us like a thief therefore we must always stand prepared.

·      The Lord who is coming is coming to change the narrative, to create a new world order where righteousness and peace will reign. We too must allow the Lord to make us new and whole again. To do this we must like the Psalmist says “Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and grant us your salvation” (Ps. 85:8).

·      May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!

 

 

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