Second Sunday of Advent Year C: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
·
Baruch 5:1-9;
·
Ps 126:1-6;
·
Phil 1:4-6, 8-11
·
Luke 3:1-6
Counting our Blessings in Advent
The readings of today continue to remind us of the
place of Advent in our lives. It is a season that we are all reminded of what
God has done for us in the past, what God is doing for us now and what God will
continue to do for us in the future. In Advent, we live again those promises of
ancient hopes.
Baruch in the first reading and like Jeremiah of last Sunday,
offers words of encouragement to Israel in exile in view of their eventual
liberation and return: He says;
“Jerusalem take off your robe of mourning and misery; put
on the splendor of glory of God forever….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 message of hope is intensified by Psalm 126. Verses
1-3 says,
“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.”
Clearly, true message of lament and song of joy,
gratitude to what God has done for them in the past- the liberation from exile.
In verse 4, he restores their fortunes, their well- being, brings them peace.
In remaining verses Israel looks at the past, pleads restoration and continues
blessings and protection in the future:
“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).
Israel hope, our hope, the hope of the Church will never
be in vain. This is why Paul says to the Church in Philippi; “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). That same Jesus was
earlier foretold by Israel’s prophets- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah,
down to John the Baptist, as stressed in today’s Gospel (Luke 3:1-6).
Like Israel and the early church Advent is a time we
could settle down and count our blessings- life, family, children, husbands,
friend dad and mom, jobs, good of mind and body, name them. Advent is time we
also want to bring our remaining “misfortunes” illness and other forms of brokennesses
to God. There is no one without some set-backs in life. We want to bring this
set back to Christ.
Our future is also clouded with some level of
uncertainties: what will be the nature and the final impact of the hurricane,
the result of my examination, I hope there wouldn’t be much traffic on the
road, no accident no unforeseen illnesses, no divorce; I hope the initial joy
of that honeymoon will last. It is under such uncertainties and many more that
we need to surrender ourselves more and more under the ambiance of hope, love,
faith and of Christ Jesus whom we expect at Christmas and in the parousia. In
other words, our past, present and future all belongs to Jesus.
Reflection Question
1.
How well prepared
are we for the coming of Christ?
2.
And how do we
assist others to prepare for the coming of Christ?
3.
What are our
blessings and set-backs?
