February 26, 2023; 1st Sunday Lent; Year (A)

Readings: Gen. 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

 

Fighting Temptation

1.    God created man and woman to live peacefully with him, the creator, and nature. The book of Genesis demonstrates God’s relationship with Adam and Eve. This story is about friendship, love, grace, abundance, disobedience, Sin, compassion, and forgiveness. Adam and Eve had everything in the garden: their needs were met without them working hard. They had a perfect friendship with God, who would come to the garden to walk with them in the evening and converse as they enjoyed the beauty of creation. Unfortunately, that relationship did not work out as God intended. The devil entered the garden and changed things around. Eve chose to listen to the devil and disobeyed God. She wanted to be like God. This temptation introduced disobedience, hatred, anger, finger-pointing, and Sin into the garden. Man became his own worst enemy. The harmony between God, man, and nature was destroyed, and man was cursed and driven out of the garden to till the ground and fend for himself. 

 

2.    During Lent, we are again allowed to look at our lives in relationship with God, humanity, and nature. On Ash Wednesday, we prayed: “Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.” Our journey into Lent began when God became man in the flesh at the incarnation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, not to condemn the world but so that through him the world might be saved.” (Jn. 3:16). Without the fall, there would have been no need for redemption. According to St. Paul, “For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered so that transgression might increase, but grace overflowed all the more where Sin increased.” (Rom. 5:19-20). Paul reminds us again: “For our sake, God made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21). “Sin,” therefore, “is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. Sin is an offense against God: “against you, you alone have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.” Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. It is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,” It is the love of oneself, even the contempt of God. In this proud self-exaltation, Sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.” (CCC 1849-1850).

 

3.    In today’s Gospel, we read of the temptation of Jesus in the desert. With this, Jesus teaches us how to act when we are tempted. Since the devil used his knowledge of the Bible to tempt Jesus, Jesus also used the Scripture to conquer the devil. He countered the devil and commanded him to get out of His sight. The best way to fight temptation is to fortify ourselves with the word of God. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living.” (2 Tim. 3:16). How comfortable are you with your Bible?

 

4.    The devil manipulated Eve and got the better of her: “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” He cast doubts on God’s directives and offered her his logical explanation: “You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad.” (Gen. 3:4). On hearing that the woman turned away from God: she wanted to be like God. She thought of the benefits of the fruit: “The tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Gen. 3:6). Sin is turning away from the creator towards creatures. That was precisely what the woman did. She was more comfortable in the company of the devil than with God. The devil always gets us at our weakest point. He attacks us when we are sick, hungry, lonely, sad, defenseless, depressed, jobless, moneyless, poor, and desperate. He comes with false, empty promises if only we would do his bidding.

 

5.    Jesus shows us today how to face temptation. We must be prayerful; we must fast and give in charity. We must know the Bible and develop new ways to counter the devil’s antics. Christ went into the desert to fast and pray for strength and a sense of direction. He surrendered his will to the will of God and fortified himself with the word of God. With this, he was able to face the devil. “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God,” Again, it is written, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” And finally, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” (Mt. 4:4,7,10). We fall into temptation when we do not know how to fortify ourselves. Lent gives us that golden opportunity to battle the devil. We must give alms, fast, and pray if we are to face the temptations of our daily lives. We must be humble, forgiving, compassionate, and merciful. May we enter this season with the desire to change for the better? Amen!

 

 

 

Assignment:

1.    How do you prepare for Lent? To fight the devil’s temptation, Jesus relied on the word of God. There are 40 days between today and Easter Sunday. Please read the Book of Proverbs, chapters 1 to 31, each day from March 1 to March 31. On Feb. 27 and 28, read Psalm 1 and Psalm 2. Then from April 1 to April 9, read Psalms 4, 5, 15, 25, 51, 91, 103, 115, and 150. There will be Bible classes on Wednesdays of Lent in the Church from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The classes will be live-streamed.

 

2.    During Lent, we are encouraged to give alms. When we give alms, we see ourselves as God’s stewards entrusted with many blessings. Our gifts are meaningful when we give sacrificially. Please give to the 2023 Appeal for Catholic Ministries: Pay $200.00 today to reach our goal of $9702.00. Thank you. Please support the missions of the Missionary Society of Paul. Pick up a table calendar and give whatever you can each month to provide fresh water, feed the hungry, educate a child in the mission, or train a Seminarian for the missions. What you give up for Lent should benefit others.

 

3.    Do not forget your parish. Our stewardship is very low, as you can see in the bulletin. We need $3,000.00 a week to break even. Now we can hardly raise $1,500.00. Please increase your giving, if possible, and help us keep the Church warm. Let us be available to people around us. Share a smile with those you meet, and never forget to wish them well. May God bless and keep you now and always. Amen!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

February 23, 2020; 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Year (A)

 

Readings: Lv. 19:1-2, 17-18; 1Cor. 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

 

A Life of Holiness is a Must for all People

 

1.    According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” (CCC 2013). All Christians must respond to this universal mandate. We are not called to be holy as we want but as holy as God is. Our understanding of holiness should be based on God’s way and not ours. “Not what I will but what you will.” (Mk. 14:36). The first reading calls us to “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”  We must respond to this call without any reservations. In his Introduction to the Devout Live, St. Francis de Sales reminds us, “Wherever we find ourselves, we not only may but should seek perfection.” He stressed: “At the creation, God commanded the plants to bear fruit each according to its kind, and he likewise commands Christians, the living branches of the vine, to bear fruit by practicing devotion according to their state in life.” We are created in the image and likeness of God to know, love, serve, and worship God in this world and to be happy with him in the next. Our existence on earth will only be meaningful if we see the face of God and live happily with him in heaven. Since our choices should be geared towards our dwelling place with God in heaven, we must live holy lives. 

 

2.    What is holiness? Holiness means sacredness or purity. It is often used to describe things that are consecrated or dedicated and set apart for the service of God. It is living in communication with God and others. It comes from God alone, so people and things can only be holy if they are related to God. Because of our desire to seek God and all that pleases Him, we must let go of everything to have a life with God. To this end, St. Paul states: “I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have accepted the loss of all things, and I consider them so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (Phil. 3:8-10). “In order to reach this perfection,” the Catechism teaches again, “the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ’s gift, so that …doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus, the holiness of the people of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.” (CCC 2013).

 

3.    The Gospel reading today makes sense when seen from the background of the call to holiness. The teaching of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount shows the Christian how to pursue a life of holiness. Responding to this call means, “You shall not bear hatred for your brother. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge.” (Lev. 19:18). “Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. Give to the one who asks of you and does not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.”(Mt. 5:38-45).

 

4.    How do we respond to those who hate and wish us bad? Chris has taught us how to respond to those who hate us. “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt. 5:23-24). Christians do not look for anπ easy way out of pursuing a life of holiness because they have no alternative. They look for options because it is always right to do the right. Not doing the right is not an option! Christians know that by hurting others, they hurt themselves. We hurt ourselves when we are abusive, disregard, look down on, or act maliciously toward others. Bearing grudges, harboring grievances, and planning revenge is like holding a big fire in our hearts, waiting to ignite, burn, and consume ourselves and everything in its path. We must conquer hatred with love. 

 

5.    “When we hate our enemies, we give them power over us – power over our sleep…power over our blood pressure, power over our health and happiness. Our enemies would dance for joy if they knew how our hatred tears us apart. Our hatred is not hurting them at all. It only turns own days and night into a hellish turmoil.” (Anonymous) Jesus wants us to use the power of love and conquer our enemies. Our enemies would not be able to withstand the pressure of our love for too long. They will buckle under the enormity of our love; we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Love always releases a chain reaction of love. Responding with love toward those who hate us benefits both parties far more than a response of hate. We must answer the call to be holy as our heavenly Father is holy!

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

February 12, 2023; 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Sirach 15:15-20; 1 Cor. 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

 

God Created Us to Choose Him Always

1.    Today’s first reading reminds us, “If you choose, you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before men are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” (Sirach 15:15-17). In Deuteronomy, God told the children of Israel that if they kept his commandment, they would enjoy a long life in the promised land. He reminded them that his command was not complex for them to observe but that it was something very near to them, “Already in your mouths and your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” (Deut. 30:14). In verse 15, he says: “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.” He gave them a choice between God’s blessing and God’s curse. To stress the seriousness of their choice, God invites, in verse 19, heaven and earth to witness the choice they were to make.

 

2.    The ability to choose what we want is God’s sacred gift to humanity. He gives us Free Will. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nos. 1730 reminds us that “God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his actions. “God willed that man should be ‘left in the hand of his counsel,’ so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator, and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him.”  The gift of Free Will should enable us to choose the path that would lead us to God. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. We have often deviated from God, choosing ourselves rather than our Creator. We have used this gift of freedom many times to our detriment; to destroy and kill rather than to love, respect, and protect others. Yet, God still respects us and will never take that gift away from us.

 

3.    Today’s readings remind us of God’s intention to give us free will. “The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.” Again, he reminds us, “If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him and walking in his ways and keeping his commandments, statutes, and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.” (Deut. 30:16). Our choices have repercussions and consequences; we are responsible for every choice. When we refuse to obey God’s Commandment, we do so to our detriment, and we will pay the price for it. “If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish…” (Deut.30:17-18). Though we have been given the gift of Free Will, we must necessarily choose what is right, always choosing wisely. We cannot afford to decide what is evil or what goes contrary to the will of God. 

 

4.    This brings us to today’s Gospel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. We must not only obey the law but personalize and internalize it. God gave us the law for a purpose, to guide our way of life on earth and ensure a peaceful cohabitation with others. The law of the Lord is a guide to the right decision. Therefore, the law of Moses finds its completion in Jesus. Hence, he says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17). It is always in our best interest to obey the law of God. No wonder the Psalmist prays, “Instruct me, O Lord, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.” (Ps. 119:33-34). 

 

5.    The law of God, fulfilled in Christ, makes us morally strong, upright, and honest. It gives us the right disposition to live a life of integrity and enables us to be honest and sincere and always to speak the truth. To this end, Mark Twain notes: “Speaking honestly is better. It takes a lot of stress out of our lives. If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything, but if you don’t tell the truth, you have to remember what you said.” Proverbs 10:9 stresses this point thus, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Herein lies the punishment for those who make bad decisions and do not obey the law of love.

 

6.    The choice that we make places an obligation on us. If we make good and positive choices, we reap a bountiful benefit, but if we make bad choices, we will undoubtedly end up with harmful consequences. We must choose to forgive those who hurt us or be stuck with the toxic feeling of hatred each time we see the object of our apprehension. Christ wants to spare us this, so he instructs us to tread the path of reconciliation. He gives us simple rules or a manifesto of his kingdom – the beatitudes. He warns, “I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Let us pray, once again, with the Psalmist: “Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.” Amen.

 

                            Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 25, 2022; Homily for Christmas Day 2022 (Year A)

Readings: Is. 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

 

Christ Needs a Clean Heart to Dwell in!

1.    Darry Dixon’s song, ‘Give me a clean heart,’ captures how I should celebrate Christmas. “Give me a clean heart To see You like I should, hey, To walk the path that’s right, To do the things You would, Give me a clean heart, And I will serve nobody but you.” John the Baptist told us to “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.” (Lk. 3:5). “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”, says the Lord, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20) Christ needs a well-kept dwelling place for his new home. Christ needs our hearts to dwell in. He will not force his way in. He respects our free will to let him in or not. Letting Christ into our hearts will experience peace, love, joy, and hope. A heart that bears a grudge or a grievance or keeps malice and refuses to forgive or let go of past hurts has too many things to deal with. Christ can never dwell in such a heart. That heart has no peace, no joy. Such a heart is always complaining and finding faults with others because he has no peace in himself/herself.

 

2.    As we celebrate Christmas today, may we do so with clean hearts and receive Christ joyfully. The first reading captures this joy thus: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing, and saying to Zion, ‘Your God is King!” Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, brings us peace and joy. He brings people together to share what they have with others. And so, we sing with the Psalmist, “All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.” When our hearts are free, we feel light and excited about life and want to share with others. An old Navy veteran was asked to choose $100.00 for himself or $500.00 to give randomly to people in the mall. He chose $500.00 to share with other shoppers. At the end of the exercise, he was given $500.00 for himself and broke down in tears. He said he was wondering where he would get money to take care of himself. Christmas miracle is that God shows up when we least expect him to. He is the God of possibilities; nothing shall be impossible for him. 

 

3.    The theme of our readings at this Mass is joy and exultation. The birth of Christ is the dawn of a new day and is much more than a superficial celebration of joy. The joy of Christmas goes deeper in all its ramifications. It shows God's love for humanity, the love that transcends mere emotions. For Christ is the communication of God to the world. The second reading tells us that God speaks to us through his Son, “Whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.” Therefore, Christ came into the world primarily to “Save his people from their sins.” (Mat. 1:21). He came for the liberation of his people: God anointed Christ to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind.

 

4.    Christmas means that we must be Christ to others. As Christ was sent to bring solace to the oppressed and the poor, so must we do whatever we can to alleviate the sufferings of others in our midst. Our Christmas songs should not end on Christmas day but should initiate us into a life of service for others. Howard Thurman reminded us that: “When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock, the work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all, to make music in the heart.”

 

5. Let me end this reflection when this Christmas story. On Christmas day, God often celebrates the birth of his Son with all his creatures. He would prepare a big pot of rice and take it to hell to celebrate with the devil and his angels. He would keep the basin of cooked rice in the middle with the devil and his angels seated all around. He would give each of them a long spoon and invite them to enjoy their meal. The long spoon made it challenging to eat as each scoop of rice would fall on the ground. Finally, there was frustration, anger, and resentment, and before long, a quarrel broke out. The devil would not take it any longer; he kicked the basin and spilled the content on the ground. God, the father, got up, thanked them, collected the dirty rice, the basin, and the spoons, and returned to heaven.

 

6. In heaven, God the father called all the saints together and, placing a bowl of rice in the middle, invited them to celebrate his Son’s birthday. He gave each saint a long spoon and asked them to enjoy the meal. Instead of trying to feed themselves, the saints decided to feed one another. By so doing, they all ate and were satisfied. With this story, we understand that there is a Christmas miracle in the world, but the blessing will not fall from the sky. People are required to create it by themselves. On this Christmas, let us go out and join the many whose concern is to create a Christmas miracle in the lives of those who need it. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 18, 2022; 4th Sunday Advent; Year (A)

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Mt. 1:18-24

 

God’s Ways are Not Our Ways; his Plans are not Our Plans!

 

1.    Two weeks ago, we met John the Baptist, who appeared from the wilderness and called us to repent, for the kingdom of God was near. He called himself the voice of the one crying in the desert: prepare the way for the Messiah. Today we see Joseph, a man who never spoke a word in the Bible. We only know of his thought, “Such was his intention when behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home.”Even his thought was controlled, so it seems, by the angel. In my opinion, these two men, with their peculiar characters and personalities, are the ‘Persons of Christmas.’ They speak to us in different ways about the working of God in the lives of men. Their lives make it clear to us that we may plan what we like for our lives, but God always has his plans for us. God tells us, in no uncertain terms, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8-9). When God enters our world, He turns it upside down and inside out.

 

2.    So, who was Joseph? This man’s personality, humanity, and humility can be rated as high as any biblical character of his time. He played a vital role in salvation history. The Bible tells us that “He was a righteous man.” So-called because he observed the law of God. Yet he was unwilling to expose his wife, whom he thought had broken the law. He was a God-fearing man who would do nothing to jeopardize his relationship with God or his fellow men. He knew that law was made for man and not man for the law. He was compassionate. He empathized with Mary’s situation so he would not openly discredit her. Joseph was a man of honor and did all he could to protect Mary’s good name. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, “A person’s reputation is their most prized possession, and to destroy it is not just unjust but robbery. Even if what we say about other people is true, and they have done terrible things, it is still deeply wrong to destroy their name unless there is some compelling necessity for the common good.” May we not say a word that will destroy the good name of another child of God. “Do to no one what you would not want done to you.” (Matt. 7:12). 

 

3.    Joseph was a man of faith. He took his problem to God and was sure God would find a way for him. And He did! Joseph took his wife home. He was to be the foster father of the son of God and would be the one to name him Jesus. He was indeed a father to Jesus every step of the way. Joseph was a man of prayer. When he was worried about his wife, he took it to the Lord in prayer. He did not report her to people and sought what to do with her. God showed him the way and instructed him on what to do. He never wavered from God’s plan. How do you deal with troubling situations in your life? Who do you talk to first? Let us learn from Joseph, the quiet man of the New Testament. God will meet us in the hour of our need and show us a way out. But remember, when you let God into your life, your plans become God’s plans, and your life becomes God’s life. God will give you responsibilities you never bargained for but be sure He will always be there with you. He will send his angels to assure you that He is Emmanuel, God with us. He will provide you with what you need. He will be with you because you said ‘yes’ to him amidst suffering and disappointments, pains and toil, hardship and hunger, temptation and danger.

 

4.    In today’s first reading, Ahaz refused to say yes to God like Joseph. In about 735 B.C. Ahaz, king of Judah, was pressured by two other kings (Israel and Damascus) to join an alliance against the superpower, Assyria. Isaiah warned Ahaz not to join any coalition but to put his faith in the Lord. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm.” (v.9). When Ahaz refused a sign that God would be with him, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Isaiah gave him the sign: “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Ahaz’s son would be a sign that God was with his people. God was faithful to his word. Ahaz died at 36 after a 16-year reign. His son Hezekiah succeeded him. Hezekiah was a good leader. Matthew saw the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Jesus, who was born of a virgin. Isaiah’s prophecy and fulfillment in Matthew’s Gospel point to absolute historical continuity because of the divine word.

 

5.    On this last week of Advent, as we celebrate Christmas in a few days, may Joseph lead us to the presence of the newborn king. Let him show us how to surrender our plans to him and say yes to God in all we do. May we not hold on to our ways like Ahaz but learn to let go so that God may reign in our hearts. Those who have faith and trust in the Lord in total surrender to him can live in the world, knowing that the fulfillment of God’s promises will inevitably come true. They know that what ‘Immanuel’ means is true. He is with us always, even till the end of time.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 11, 2022; 3rd Sunday of Advent; Year (A)

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6; James 5:7-10; Mt. 11:2-11

Rejoice In the Lord Always, Again I Say Rejoice

1.    Today is Gaudete Sunday, so called because of the entrance antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” St. Paul urged his Philippian Christians to rejoice in the Lord. Though in jail, Paul would not allow the prison cell to dampen his joy. Despite the call to rejoice, the second reading tells us to be patient until the coming of the Lord. Just as the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, we too must make our hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. The theme of hope and patiently waiting for the Lord is stressed by Isaiah in the first reading. He encouraged the captive Jews in Babylon not to give up hope. They were sad because they had lost everything: freedom, property, homeland, and the temple. They had given up hope of ever returning to their homeland. Their future was dark and gloomy. Isaiah, on the other hand, was optimistic about the future. God would bring them home and change their lives. “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” The weak, the sick, the blind, and the lame would be freed of their affliction and restored to wholeness. Yes, “His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5).

2.    Isaiah’s dream of prosperity and peace is the dream and undying faith of every generation. Our dream is that, out of this brutal and cruel world, the earth will one day be at peace, its defaced beauty restored, its wounds healed, and its sorrows lifted. God will open a road leading his people home, where all men and women will praise Him with one heart and mind. This, indeed, is the message of Christ to John the Baptist in prison, and to the poor and hopeless of this world: “Go and tell John what you hear and see’, “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers and cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Matthew 11:5). 

3.    Don’t we sometimes feel like the despondent children of Israel? At times, we seem to have come to the end of our ropes with no light at the end of the tunnel. We have tried everything, and nothing seems to work. Well, John the Baptist must have felt that way too, in today’s Gospel. He preached repentance with fire and brimstone, warning the Jews to act with immediate alacrity: repent of their sins and bear fruit of repentance. He, who, was a fearless preacher, who confronted kings and queens with a call to repentance, ended up in Herod’s prison. He must have felt that if Christ was the Messiah, he would get him out of jail. But that did not happen. So, John sent messengers to Christ: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matt.11:3). Jesus reminded John that God’s ways were not man’s ways. The kingdom of God may be slow, but it will certainly come. Our destiny may be delayed but never denied. Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.

4.    Dear friends, in whatever situation you may be today, God is right there with you. Even as a country, see how far we have come. Do not forget that there was a time in this country, when people were separated by the color of their skins, and voting rights was the prerogative of a few rather than a right for eligible voters. How can we forget the struggle for emancipation and its subsequent declaration in 1863, or the civil rights movements, and all those who fought for and against it? Think of the many lives that were lost during those struggles. What made the movement possible was people’s undying faith in God and their hope for a better tomorrow. Isaiah reminded the children of Israel in exile that their freedom was within reach. This was the same faith that put freedom within reach for African Americans, living in slavery, in years long past. Their traditional spirituals, according to Pamela Crosby, “All God’s Chillun got shoes” mentions having shoes – something most slaves did not have – plus a robe, a harp, a crown, and wings gave them hope. They knew none of these were available on earth for them at the time but held on to their faith that “there is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul. Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend. And if you lack for knowledge, he’ll ne’er refuse to lend.” These struggles and the subsequent triumph of good over evil put this third week of Advent in perspective for us. 

5.    And so, we are encouraged to rejoice but to be patient. The birth of Christ will change the course of our lives. Jesus is the Messiah John the Baptist preached about. There is no reason to doubt or be discouraged because things do not work out as planned. God is still in control! Let us pray and rejoice in the Lord always for He is near. Because we know that “Affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:3-5). May this Christmas truly be the beginning of all that is good in your life. For He who is coming is Emmanuel, God with us. With Him nothing shall be impossible for God to do in our lives.  Amen. 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP