Advent: Learning the Pure Speech

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday, 3rd Week of Advent, Year B, December 15th, 2020

Texts: Zeph. 3:1-2.9-13; Ps. 34:2-3.6-7.17-19.23; Matt. 21:28-32

God promises to give us a pure speech to bring a new order. What could this pure speech means? This pure speech could mean understanding. A psalmist prays thus: "Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart" (119:34). Understanding brings a change. In today's first reading, it is said, "Thus says the Lord: 'Woe to her that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! She listens to no voice, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw to her God. Yes, at at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve the Lord with one accord.'" We need the understanding that our own ways lead to destruction, that we are to listen to God's voice, that we need corrections from the Lord, that we need to trust in the Lord. The problem is not because God does not reveal his ways to us, but we refuse to walk in them; the problem is not because God does not speak, but we refuse to listen to his voice; the problem is not that we are not corrected, but we do not accept the correction; the problem is not that God does not give us reason to trust in him, but we refuse to trust in him. We are just rebellious and have chosen to defile ourselves

The problem is that we lack understanding to process the knowledge we have and the evidence around us.The wise says, "Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding" (Prov.17:27). When God corrects us, perhaps through hard times, we see it as punishment, we see a wicked God rather than a loving and good God.

Advent is the period we need to learn the pure speech from God. This is the time we seek to understand better. A psalmist says, "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (119:130). Hence, Advent season calls for devotion to God's words. 

Understanding leads to repentance. Conversion begins with understanding.  Repentance comes when we understand that the life we are to embrace is the best for us. Jesus Christ, in the gospel reading, reminds us that what God wants from us is repentance. Let us seek understanding that we may experience conversion and true repentance.

Lord our God, give us understanding that we may do your will. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke