Homily For The 1st Sunday Of Advent, Year A.

 

Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 121:1-2, 4-5, 6-9; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44.

THE JOY OF BEHOLDING THE HOUSE OF GOD

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

·       Happy New Year to you all!

·       A lot of you may be surprised or confused, and probably wondering if Fr. Charles has gone mad. Why is he greeting “Happy New Year” in November and not the usual 1^st January? I am not mistaken nor confused. Today, the church begins a new liturgical year; hence, it is proper to start the year by wishing you all a “Happy New Year”.

·       Today, we move from the liturgical year C to year A while preparing ourselves for the imminent coming of the Son of God at Christmas, which is what the season of Advent reminds us of.

·       Today, being the first Sunday of Advent, the Psalmist reminds us that we should be joyful in having the privilege to dwell in the house of God, “I rejoiced when I heard them say ‘let us go to the house of God’”. The church, as the house of God, is only a prefiguration of the eternal house of God in heaven.

·       In this house of God, we are expected to exude Joy and unlimited gladness because “in the presence of God, there is fullness of Joy” (Ps. 16:11). This joy comes from the fact that where God is, there is no more pain, sorrows, sickness, no setbacks but songs of victory and testimonies.

·       The Advent season, especially this first Sunday, reminds us that if we are joyful in this temporal house of God, we stand a chance to be even more joyful in the eternal house of God, where our joy will be everlasting. Hence, we must make adequate preparation to enter that house.

·       The first reading (Isaiah 2:1-5) teaches us that the temporal and visible temple of God here on earth is where we are prepared and nurtured for the eternal house of God. While in this earthly house of God, we learn the dos and don’ts of the eternal house of God, where our joy shall know no bounds.

·       This mountain (the temporal house of God) shall become a mountain of peace and tranquillity where he shall “teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths” (Is. 2:3). If we walk in the paths of God which is the path of righteousness and sinlessness, then, when we get to the eternal house of God, our salvation is sure and guaranteed.

·       We must ask ourselves, what does this temporal house of God – the church represent for me? Is it a place of prayer and renunciation of sin to prepare for eternity? Is it a place where stubborn vices are conquered, and eternal virtues are imbibe? Is it a place where I learn how to go to heaven or prepare for hell? Is the church a place to encounter God and seek his face, or a place of seeking special recognition and increasing our social status?

·       The Psalmist today tells us that those who come to the house of God for the wrong reasons, to intimidate others, show off and not to worship God and prepare for eternity, their joy will be short-lived and followed by frustration and damnation. While those who come for the right reason will continue to sing to eternity, “I rejoiced when I heard them say ‘let us go to God’s house’” (Ps. 121:1).

·       Another problem is that a lot of people are desirous of the house of God, but they are not yet ready to imbibe the discipline necessary to behold the house of God. Hence, they tell themselves there is time. I am still young, let me enjoy my life now, when I get old, I will prepare for both the temporal and eternal house of God. For people of this category, Sundays are their busiest day; they are so busy doing nothing, yet have no time for God.

·       The Advent season is a time to develop God consciousness and prepare for the birth of the eternal king. And that is why the second reading (Romans 13:11-14), reminds us that “the time has come” (Rom. 13:11). There is no time for frivolities, we must get serious and get going because our “salvation is even nearer to us than it was when we were converted” (Rom. 13:11). We await the birth of the eternal high priest therefore we must wake up from our long night of sin where we think that nobody notices our sin because it will soon be daylight and everything done in secret and in the dark will be revealed.

·       The second reading also instructs us that if we want to joyfully behold the house of God without fear or trembling, we must learn to live decently, no more drunken orgies, no promiscuity, no wrangling or jealousy. What is expected of us is to put on Christ as our armour and be Christ-like in all we do.

·       Putting on Christ means being heaven-conscious and divinely alert; hence, we will not be caught unawares and engaging in things that are not eternally rewarding. The gospel reading (Matthew 24:37-44) calls for vigilance and preparedness. We must stay awake, not in idleness but in meaningful righteousness, so if the Lord comes now, we are ready; if he comes tomorrow, we are much, much ready.

·       One thing is sure that the master is coming, when and how, we do not know, but every wise Christian will make himself or herself prepared and ready so that at the fullness of time, we can, as the psalmist sings joyfully will be rewarded with the eternal dwelling of God. Our song shall be re-echoed, “I rejoiced when I heard them say ‘let us go to God’s house” (Ps. 121:1).

·       May the Lord give us the grace to use our time here at the temporal house of God – the physical church of earth to prepare for the eternal house of God, where our joy will be complete and all sicknesses and sorrows taken away, through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!