Homily First Sunday of Advent Year B: Fr.
Michael Ufok Udoekpo
· Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7;
·
Ps
80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19;· Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7;
· 1 Cor 1:3-9
· Mark 13:33-37.
Time (Kairos) Belongs to God Our Father
and Redeemer (’ᾱḇȋnû and
gō’ᾰlēnû)
How
often do we not hear people say to one another, “hang-in there, God’s time is
the best’?” Behind this expression,
historically speaking is the human person’s eagerness, anxiety, uncertainty,
curiosity, and the need to know, when and how, why and where? In faith context,
it is an expression of our total dependence upon God, our father (’ᾱḇȋnû), the pater
noster. It expresses hope for deliverance, improvement, and hope
for people of all cultures, depending on their needs, or the situation in which
they find themselves, as believers.
For the Jewish exiles- experiencing freedom––or
searching for one, it is an expression of faith, expectation, watchfulness and trust
in God their father, who comes (advent) to liberate and free them
from the oppressive clutches of colonialism and internal issues of settlement in the newly rebuilt land. For Christians, worldwide, Advent is a time we
relive this expression “God’s time is the best! How often, do we not search for
freedom, good health and good fortunes? Advent is a time of prayer; a time of
expectation, a time we prepare and patiently wait for the coming of Christ, the
Son of God our Father (’ᾱḇȋnû), at Christmas. It is that moment of God’s intervention. God our Father, in his son,
becoming like one of us, in order to save us!
Scripture
readings today are so timely and fitting. They redefine this divine time for us
in Jewish and Christian contexts. For all Israel’s prophets, including Third
Isaiah (Isa 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7) this time was the “Day of the Lord.” No
wonder the first reading, begins acknowledging God as “our father” and ends on
the same notes of God, as “our father,” (’ᾱḇȋnû)
) and our redeemer(gō’ᾰlēnû) .Time, gifts, live, prosperity, land, life belong to
him, who blesses with them. Third Isaiah's passage invokes that time when God accompanies them(Israel) throughout their
journeys in exiles. Truly, when they were in trouble of slavery, dryness,
starvation, thirstiness, sin or faced challenges in rebuilding the new community, they
placed their hope and trust in God, who comes down, and renders
heavens to save Israel! Israel's dependence in this God is as a child to a
father, or a clay in the potter’s hand, as the reading stresses, and confirmed by
the Psalmist, “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be
save” (ps 80:4).
Again, in Christian communities, Advent is a time we continue to cherish,
acknowledge with hope and expectations God’s presence in our lives, through the
birth and working of Christ his son. Saint Paul brought same message to the
Corinthian community in the Second reading. Paul says:
“I
give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on
you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in very way, with all
discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among
you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation
of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:3-9).
In
the Gospel, Mark uses Kairos to describe this time of the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, to his eager disciples. It is an important time, an
appointed time; a quality time (Mark 1:15); a time of fulfilment of the
day of the Lord. It is a time nobody knows (Mark 13:33). It belongs to
God “Our Father.” This time can only be handled by faith, watchfulness, being
alert, loving our neighbors. It can only be handle by putting forgiveness into
practice. By forgiving those who have offended us and asking those we have offended
for forgiveness. It can also be handle by offering services of charity to
the poor, and the needy!
The danger is that, Advent Season and Christmas can come and go without our
realizing that “God’s time is the best,” and that God is hidden in every events
of our life’s journeys. He is our father, who feeds us, who protects us, and
who provides for us. Like the gatekeeper in the Gospel passage of today (Mark
13:34), the Church invites us during this Advent not to remain chronologically
static, or be carried away by the media, the politics of the day, the
noise, the violent on our streets, the wars and the threats of war. Or
even by our own weaknesses and sins, thinking that they are beyond repairs. During Advent, our relationship, our covenant
with God our father (’ᾱḇȋnû) and redeemer (gō’ᾰlēnû) is repairable; so also is
our broken relationship with our neighbors during this advent!
1. How
do we prepare for Advent, the coming of God’s Son?
2. Do
we expectantly see him as the revelation of God our Father and Redeemer?
3. Do
we see the redeemer grace of God in how we relate with the poor, the voiceless,
those on the margins, and the needy? How do we help members of our faith
communities to live Advent by recognizing God
our father (’ᾱḇȋnû)
and redeemer (gō’ᾰlēnû) in their midst?
