Homily[2] 2nd Sunday of
Advent Year C: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil
1:4-6, 8-11 and Luke 3:1-6
When the Lord delivered Zion from Bondage It was like a dream (Ps
126)
This Psalm 126 sets the tone for the
Bible lessons of- this 2nd Sunday of Advent. Granted that the history of Israel
or humanity of all nations, continents and cultures has always been that of
ups and downs, bondages, captivities, droughts, weeping, corruption, joys and sorrows, wars and famine, exile and
freedom, Advent brings us hope. Advent reminds the global church, Christians everywhere
to prepare for the Lord, the source of love, peace and joy! Advent also helps Christian everywhere count their
blessings, past and present and endure all kinds of suffering patiently. It brings every Christian and believer
hope in moments of mourning, hopelessness, deprivation and captivity!
The first reading from Baruch(Bar 5:1-9), though
originally addressed to the Israelites in times of threats of hopelessness in exile
could be spiritually appropriated by us, today’s Christians, and Catholics.
Baruch whose names means, "that who has been blessed," addressed the distressed and very wearied Israelites,
saying to them,
“Jerusalem take off your robe of
mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory of God forever for God will
show all the earth your splendor, you will be named by God forever the peace of
justice, the glory of God’s worship….the forest and every fragrant kind of tree
have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by
the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.” This justice
and freedom came to be when the Persians, defeated the Babylonians and when God
put love and kindness in the heart of King Cyrus who permitted the exiled
Israelites to return and rebuild their lives and the once destroyed Temple of
Solomon.
Truly, Baruch convey a message of hope and a futuristic language of the acknowledgement of God’s blessings dotted
throughout the history of God’s relationship with his people--- “God will, God
will, God will do this and that- for Israel.”!!! The Church, therefore invites us during
Advent, from our various life situations, and continents of the world, to
reflect on Baruch when we thought that we have been unfairly treated,
marginalized, neglected, or unjustly deprived of our dignities, rights and
freedom- even to pray, and worship.
Psalm 126 builds on Baruch’s. In
verses 1-3 we are told,
“When the lord brought back the captives of
Jerusalem, Zion, it was like a dream, then our mouth was filled with
laughter and our tough with joy. Then they said among themselves the Lord has
done great things for them, the Lord has done great things for us.”
Here there is a sense of lament, joy
and also gratitude for God’s blessings to us in the past and present. Our
future is in God’s hands. The more reason the Psalmist invites us to in moments
of challenges be able pray: “Restore our fortunes, O lord, like the
torrents in the Negev desert. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they shall go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall
come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves” (vv 4-6).
In other words, Israel hope, is our
hope, which will never be in vain. Speaking of this hope, Paul addresses the
Church in Philippi in the following pastoral words, “I pray always with joy in my
every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from
the first day till now. I am confident this, that the one who began a good work
in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ,”
(Phil 1:4-6, 8-11).
In addition to these messages from Baruch, Psalm 126 and Paul, John
the Baptist, a model of Advent, penultimately, in the Gospel (Luke 3:1-6) invites us- Christians
everywhere- young and old, to prepare, to hope, to trust in the Lord, to mend
our ways, forgive one another, endure sufferings, bad politics and governance,
joblessness and lawlessness, poor health care and insurances, hardships,
terrorism and threats of war with patience. Scriptures also invite us today to
reach out to the poor, sow peace, love and mercy, not hatred and blames, so
that when Christ comes both at Christmas and in the Parousia- in the final judgment
we may not be strangers. Rather, we might be seen as familiar friends to
Jesus, Our Lord, Master and Deliverer!
