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3^RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: STILL ON THE WATCH OUT, NEVER GIVE UP!

(Matthew 11: 2-11)

This is the third Sunday of Advent. We are still in the expectation. But today the Church bids us rejoice. It is called the 'Gaudete Sunday'. Thus, the entrance antiphon of today tells us: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near" (Phil 4:4-5).

The invitation today is for us not to allow anything, any confusion, any prison, any sorrow, any sadness whatsoever to make us give up on the holy watch we have begun.

Today, the very herald of the message of Advent is being presented to be almost giving up. But Jesus addresses him as He will address each and everyone of us looking up to Him. Yes, we are surrounded with temptations to give up.

 

TEMPTATIONS TO GIVE UP

Waiting can be boring. Waiting can be uncertain, it can be fearful sometimes, waiting can as well be frustrating, it can also be disappointing. Waiting can be annoying when the one you are waiting for fails to come through as expected, it can be humiliating when the one you imagined to be coming turns out to be someone that doesn't worth the waiting.

John the Baptist had said a lot of things about Jesus. He has painted an awe-inspiring picture of the one coming after him. I must be correct to say that he was not at all afraid when he was thrown into prison. He must be saying in his mind, "the Messiah will surely pepper these guys" but to his greatest dismay, he started languishing in the prison and nothing was done. He queries himself: what have I done? Could it be that I didn't do my work well? Did I not carry the mission of preparing the people well? What have I done to deserve being here? Did I not prepare my own self well in the desert all these years? Could it be that my best is not enough?  After all these and many other introspective inquiries by John, he must have beaten his chest to say: I think I did my tasks well to the best of my knowledge. But there is another point to consider.  Maybe there were some mistakes.

 

AM I NOT MISTAKING?

John the Baptist came to think that he may be making a mistake by taking Jesus to be whom He is not. This may be an impostor, (ndi mekanik ekweghizinu anyi mara ndi ara). This is because even before the coming of Jesus many had come claiming to be this or that. He sent a word by His disciples to Jesus.

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like blaming yourself for your goodness? For the true love you showed? For your uprightness? Etc. Send a word to Jesus, pray to him to help you understand better. Write Him a prayerful letter from your own prison.

 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRISON

Prisoners are sometimes permitted to send messages or letters to their loved ones and also receive items from them. The apostle Paul also wrote letters to the Churches and individuals from the prison.

Through his disciples, John sent these words: "Are you the one to come or shall we look for another?"

John here represents all those who have no joy, those who have known so much toil on account of their faith and hope in God. Jesus will never change. He is the one. He is the same yesterday, today and for ever. Watch out from your prison bars and behold Jesus, wipe away the tears of your pain and see Jesus  the Christ, He comes with something good for you. He will certainly come. You will hear the good news. Draw near that you may see and believe.

 

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Jesus needed not to bear testimony about Himself. He sent back the disciples of John with the injunction: "Go and tell what you hear and see". John must have rejoiced even though still in prison at the good news he heard. Remember he was not just talking about himself. John was not selfish. He asked: "Are you the one we are..." Not the 'One I am waiting for'.

Let us not expect the coming of Jesus to bring liberation, open door and prosperity only to our own families. No. Jesus brings a selfless joy. See the goodness in others and glorify God. God has His plan for you. No one will take away from you the special blessing designed by God for you.

 

TAKE NO OFFENCE AT GOD

John must have been sorry for nearly losing faith after hearing the great things God was doing through Christ. But Jesus sent back words to him never to be disappointed with God. The Lord is never man. He can never fail. He is always there. What He said He will do He will do. Do not compare yourself with any other.

Do you feel you're behind the bars? Behind success? Behind riches? Not gotten your dream husband, your dream wife, your dream job? Do you think you did not achieve your plan for this year? Do not kill yourself, do not give up, do not speak ill of God, do not grumble against the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord. Alleluia.  He knows what is best for you.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

BLESSINGS

May the Lord reward you. May He confess you to heaven and earth. Your name will be heard for good. The enemy will never take glory due to God on account of you. Jesus poured out loving words about John. May He speak blessings into your life. May His blessings and favours rest upon you. May you see reason that will make you to always rejoice in the Lord. May the joy of the Lord be your strength against all odds. May you never give up but be taken up, may you never be humiliated but exalted by God. May you feel the nearness of the Lord in everything you do and may the joy of the Lord see you through in all your undertakings through Christ our Lord Amen

Happy Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh