Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 3rd Week of Advent, Year C, December 16th, 2021
Texts: Isaiah 54:1-10; Ps. 30:2.4-6.11-13b; Luke 7:24-30
Prophet Isaiah, in today's first reading, makes a declaration which signals the coming of God. What prophet Isaiah announces, today, is an event that can only be carried out by God. Speaking in that manner, He announces the coming of the Almighty God; He stirs our minds to await the reign of our Lord. He makes us to long for that day, for he speaks of it as the day that our longings will be satisfied, our desires will be met. In that day there will be a new order, a kind of reversal in the way things are. In his words: “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not had labour pains! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; hold not back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities." This is unimaginable and impossible to human reasoning, but with God nothing is unimaginable and impossible. He speaks in such manner to erase every thought about man, so that we will not confuse the identity of whom we await with that of man. We are expecting God, not man. Knowing whom we await will help us to know what to do. We need to do away with those things that are not pleasing to Him. We are to embrace those things He loves: charity, truth, righteousness, justice, honesty, modesty, etc.
What prophet Isaiah announces to us, in the first reading, is inauguration of a new era that will be ushered in by God. God is coming to inaugurate a new era. This new era is a new beginning with God because the former things shall not come to mind; the record of the former things will be wiped away. God says, "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widow hood you will remember no more." There will also be a new covenant, which will be everlasting. God says, "For this is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my mercy shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
This era will also witness the rise of new people of God; there will be a reversal: the first will be the last, the last will be the first. Those who are expected to reign with God will stumble because of their inability to align with the plan of God. The mighty will fall, the weak will rise. The mighty are those who trust in human effort to attain holiness and are blind to their faults. The weak are those who are aware of their sinfulness. Holiness belongs to God, not man. To live a holy life is to repent at all times. Man is made holy by being remorseful of his sins and constant repentance. Those who will make the kingdom of God are sinners who repent and are forgiven of their sins. God who created us knows us so well that in His plan He arranges another chance for us through repentance. This is made clear in today's gospel reading: "When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptised with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptised by him."
Advent reminds us of this another chance we have with God, which is repentance. Beat not yourself over that sin, just make use of the purpose of God for you; just repent and begin a new life with God.
Lord our God, thank You for granting us another chance through repentance, may we never miss this opportunity. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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