Homily For Tuesday in the First Sunday of Advent Year A, 29th November, 2022

Readings Isaiah 11:1-10, Ps 71., Luke 10:21-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WE ARE BLESSED AND  PRIVILEGED TO SHARE IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST 

As we, we continue with the event of Advent, when we reflect of the two folds coming of the Lord. We are reminded of the need to participate actively in the mission of Christ and to spend more time with God, and prepare ourselves for his coming just like the disciples in the Gospel passage today. For after the seventy disciples of Jesus returned from the mission he sent them. They rejoiced concerning the great things they have done in his name. 

So, Jesus says, “‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Then he said to his disciples “blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it”.  

Here, Jesus rejoiced in his disciples, because of the grace God his Father has given to them to share in the mission of the Son. Yes, the disciples are blessed because, in Jesus, they are beginning to recognize the long awaited Messiah which prophets and Kings longed to see but could not. Just as we heard from prophet Isaiah in our first reading today when he said: a shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.

Dear friends, like the disciples, we also have been given this same grace. So , we are blessed and privileged to share in the mission of Christ. For whenever we spread the word of God, we are sharing in the mission of Jesus, and this should give us great joy because God chose us and give us the privilege to share in the mission of his Son. For he had brought his salvation into the world, for the restoration of hope for all humanity who dwell in darkness in need of the light of Christ, which we are called to embrace in this season of Advent.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words this season, may we share greatly in the mission of Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Wishing you a glorious day.