Let Us Repent For Our God Comes

12-05-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp

We continue our reflection in this season of Advent when we prepare for the coming of the Lord. Advent is a season and time of hope, when we look with hope to the promises of the Lord to be fulfilled both in the world and in our lives, it is a time of grace when special graces are poured on us to encourage us in our journey, and it is a time we prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas, His coming every day and His coming at the end of our lives. Christ has never been away. He is always with us as He Himself said. Hence, what we are waiting for is that Christ may reveal Himself and make His presence felt in a new way, giving us an intense experience of the joy of salvation.

The first reading from the Book of Baruch gives a joyful restoration of Jerusalem and how the splendor and Glory of God would be showered upon her. The prophecy goes on to enunciate how Jerusalem would be named forever the peace of justice, the Glory of God’s worship. Baruch is known to be Jeremiah ‘s secretary and is credited to have written his Book in the early 6th century around the time of the Babylonian exile. His theme centered more on the evil of Idolatry and unfaithfulness of the Israelites which was the reason they were carried into exile. However, in today’s reading He sees the Glory that would be given to Jerusalem if they remain faithful to Him. In the same way, when we remain faithful to God, He would always abide with us in all circumstances. Paul in the second reading prays threefold prayers for the Philippians: first: that they grow in mutual love for one another, that they discern what is of value and that they may be pure and blameless.

To be able to achieve this we need to heed the voice of John in today’s gospel who calls us to make the way of the Lord and His path straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The central message John calls us to, is to repent of our ways. It is not just repentance, but to turn around from our negative and sinful lives and live our lives in line with the Gospel message. It is time we reshuffle our lives to look at what is important and what is not important, to look at what is perhaps more of a distraction than more of a life, to turn, once again, to becoming the kind of people that Jesus has taught us to become, that God has desired us to become: people who are self-sacrificing, those who reach out to their brothers and sisters. This season of advent John calls us to be faithful to our marriage commitment, live in peace with our family members, avoid too much drinks that lead us astray and forgive those who have hurt us from our own heart. Then, we would be ready to welcome the Lord when He comes.

All these may not be easy to accomplish without the assistance and grace of God on our part. The assurance of God on our side is a sure sign of victory and that is the need for prayers as Paul prays in the second reading. It is in prayer and through prayer that we are able to draw strength from the Lord that keeps us going. It is in prayer that we praise God for His bounteous love on us. It is in a state of prayer that we recognized our unworthiness before God and ask Him for mercy. Pauls’ messages today encourages us to acknowledge the need to pray for other people. These may be our family members, our colleagues in the office and those we know that are passing through difficult times. By praying for them we lift them up to God who in His kindness and love would always give answers to the prayers of His people. Let it be part of our advent preparations to pray for people we know, and those who need our prayers even if we do not know them.

May this season of Advent continue to bring you and your families closer and closer to God.

Fr. Tony Okolo