Homily For Friday Third Week of Advent Year A, 16th December, 2022

Readings Is. 56:1-3.6-8;Ps. 67; John 5:33-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HOW IS MY WAYS OF LIFE TESTIFYING ABOUT JESUS AND OUR SALVATION

Today as we make the end of the first face of the Holy Season of Advent, our Gospel passage presents to us the response of Jesus concerning his authority. For he said:  you sent messengers to John, and he gave his testimony to the truth, not that I depend on human testimony; no, it is for your salvation that I speak of this. John was a lamp alight and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave. But my testimony is greater than John’s: the works my Father has given me to carry out, these same works of mine testify that the Father has sent me.’

Here, Jesus is teaching his listeners about his personality and he wants to assure us that he is speaking the truth about himself. He made it clear that his mission comes from the Father and that his works are proof of this. He then used the mage of a shining lamp as a powerful way of describing the faith of John. Jesus tells us that while he respects the testimony of John the Baptist, for crucial evidence we should look at the works that he has done in obedience to his Father. So the first witness Jesus gave was the testimony of John the Baptist. Then in his second and third witnesses, Jesus appeals to the miracles he performed by divine power of God his Father. But the Jewish authorities failed to believe in these testimonies.

Dear friends, do we truly believe in the testimonies of Christ as we have it in our scriptures today? How is my way of life testifying about Jesus and the salvation he came to offer us? Today, as we are called to deepen our belief in the coming of Jesus, we invited to be a light of faith for those around us. So, let us make our ways of life reflect our belief in Jesus. So that people can look into our life and our actions, rather than rely on just spoken evidence of our mouths and so dispel the darkness of doubt and unbelief in our hearts.

Little wonder, we heard the Lord through prophet Isaiah in our first reading today saying: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest. And blessed is the man who does this and the son of man who clings to it: observing the sabbath, not profaning it, and keeping his hand from every evil deed. Therefore, let us make our lives living testimonies of Christ’s love and salvation for all humanity. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we await the coming of Christ, make us instruments of peace and the testimonies of your presence with us even in the midst of all the challenges around us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.