Advent: Longing for the Lord's Time

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 1st Week of Advent, Year C, December 4th, 2021
Texts: Is. 30:19-21.23-26; Ps. 147: 1-6; Mtt. 9:35-10:1.5a.6-8
Today's Readings make us to long for the Lord's time, time of redemption.  We long for it because it fulfils our desires. This tells us that advent is a season whereby we long for the Lord's time. The lord is coming to usher in our redemption. He will redeem us from adversity and affliction. At present we are experiencing trials and looking up to God for redemption. Today's first reading captures the condition of the present in the following words: "And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction".
Jesus Christ reminds us that our condition at present makes us ripe for redemption. That is what the plentfulness of the harvest means; many people are in dire need of redemption. The work of redemption needs our cooperation. Hence, "Jesus says, "pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest." There is need for more people to participate in works of redemption. All of us who are the disciples of Jesus Christ are called to participate in this work. The work of redemption includes preaching, teaching and healing of our world. We are to preach the wonderful deeds of God, we are to teach His ways and promote love, justice and peace in our world. Our world is healed through love, justice and peace.
One of the challenges of the moment is ignorance. When the Lord comes He will redeem us from ignorance by teaching us. He is coming to deepen our knowledge of God and our understanding. He is coming to teach us the way of the Lord. Hence, in the first reading, it is said "your Teacher will not hide himself any more, 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 Lord is coming to create new experience of life, experience of plenty and abundance of blessings. The Lord will not only teach us, He will also make us flourish. Everything around us will flourish and we will experience the goodness of the Lord in abundance.
The gospel reading shows us that all the good things we long are found in Jesus Christ. The gospel tells us thus: "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."


Lord God, we thank You for everything about our lives, help and deliver us from every evil, teach us Your ways and renew us body and soul. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke