Advent: Awaiting the Teacher

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday, First Week of Advent, Year B, December 5th, 2020

Texts: Is. 30:19-21.23-26; Ps. 147:1-6; Matt. 9:35-10:1..5-8

God has promised us salvation, but we have to walk in his ways. In today's first reading, the people of Jerusalem experienced adversity and affliction because they went astray. God promised them salvation because they wept over their sins and cried unto God. Hence, it is said, "Yes, O people in Zion who dwell at Jerusalem; weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you." This shows that God does not abandon anyone forever; as soon as we turn to him he is always ready to save us. If we have decided to walk in his ways, let us weep no more, for he has heard us. We are to return to him with our whole heart. This brings to mind Baruch 4:28: "As by your will you first strayed from God, so now turn back and search for him ten times harder." The way of the Lord is the way of salvation.

 Part of the fulfilment of the promise of salvation is the provision of a teacher who will teach us the way of the Lord. It is said, "And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." 

The gospel reading reminds us that the promise of a teacher is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, for it is said, "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in the their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity." The gospel Jesus Christ preached is about  the ways of the Lord. So that the gospel might be heard wherever we turn to, as promised in the first reading, Jesus Christ chose and sent out co-workers to teach and preach the gospel. Today Jesus Christ continue to teach and preach in the persons of the heralds of the gospel. Let us listen to them and follow the ways of the Lord; let us read and meditate on the the gospel so that we may know the ways of the Lord so as to walk in them. Today the gospel is readily available to us wherever we turn, let us make good use of this opportunity. Let us also share the gospel with others, for Jesus Christ says, The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few". He also says, "pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest." The problem of labourers today is both of quality and quantity. Let us pray for available labourers for good service delivery and worthiness and also for more people to yield to God's call to work in his harvest.

Lord our God, we thank you for all the teachers you have sent to us in fulfilment of promise of salvation, open our ears to listen to them and bend our wills to do what you teach through them. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke