TRUE REPENTANCE ENGENDERS HARMONIOUS COHABITATION
SUNDAY HOMILY: First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10; Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9; Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12
In our contemporary society, the prevalence of divisions, hatred, acrimony, disharmony, injustice, overambitious actions, wickedness, and also persecutions, both in secular and religious spheres, especially among Christians are horrendous.
Unfortunately, many families and societies are living in disharmony, disunity and chaos without any hope of restoration, as well as no peaceful or harmonious cohabitation. So, how can we remove these barriers occasioned by hatred, injustice, disharmony, etc., which have become serious cankerworms in our contemporary society?
Meanwhile, in the first reading of today being the Sunday Homily of 2nd Advent, Prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of the Messiah, who will govern His people by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, this Messianic or Christ’s Kingdom would definitely be a paradisiacal period where lion (aggressiveness) and sheep (gentleness), that is, every person would dwell in peace, justice, compassion, truth and harmony without discrimination or envy, but with genuine love and unity. Can this be possible in our contemporary society?
Undoubtedly, in order to enjoy this Messianic Kingdom, St. John the Baptist in today’s Gospel cries out in the wilderness, and pleads with us saying: “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). He says that this Messianic Kingdom is now closer to us, that is, the establishment of the sovereignty of the Almighty God over His people and over the whole world.
Hence, he encapsulates the very bastion of hope for a decaying society like ours. But warns us to be very careful of our actions, because in the long run each person will reap what he or she sows. Until we repent genuinely and have a change of heart, our life here on earth will ever remain a battlefield, and nothing will ever ameliorate its consequences, which also threaten our chances of enjoying the Messianic Kingdom.
Undoubtedly, one of the major problems that continues to fan the embers of disharmony, injustice, hatred, disunity, etc., is that, many Christians lack the Holy Spirit. Neither do they care for the need to always invite Him to take control of their endeavours.” For the Holy Spirit engenders genuine love, peace, patience, faith, hope, harmony, kindness, compassion, endurance, forgiveness, justice, equity, fairness, unity, trust, etc.
In the second reading, St. Paul reemphasizes the need for us to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus. That, by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope in God, hope in His mercy, and hope in His love for us (Romans 15: 4-5). Furthermore, in order to reap positive fruits, St. Paul also tells us that we must accept and welcome one another without discrimination, just as Christ welcomes us.
Moreover as Christians, we are called in this Sunday Homily to be models to civil leaders by showing good governance that promotes love, truth, harmony, peace, justice, equity and fairness which is not wealth oriented, but a service, especially to the poor and oppressed.
Finally, the summary of today’s Sunday Homily readings enkindles new hope in us. It gives us a glimpse of what we shall experience in the Messianic Kingdom, where every person will dwell in peace, justice, compassion, truth and harmony without discrimination.
However, this can only be possible when we repent genuinely and have a change of heart. That is when the Holy Spirit would take absolute possession and control of our lives, and then do the unthinkable; making it possible for lion (aggressiveness) and sheep (gentleness) to dwell in harmony. For true repentance engenders harmonious cohabitation by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Also read the Divine Mercy Prayer of St. Stephen.
PRAYER:
May the Holy Spirit give you the grace for genuine repentance, in order to enjoy the Messianic Kingdom; living in harmony with one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Peace of Christ be with you…
Rev. Fr. Ben Okala, C.S.Sp.
Dramatized Audio Bible
