Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44-45.)
Reflection on Today’s Readings, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C, December 8th, 2024
Texts: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6.8-11; Luke 3:1-6
The message, today, is about the remembrance of the Lord. We heard in today’s first reading thus: “God has remembered them.” St. Paul tells us in the second reading how he remembered the Philippians in his prayer. He says, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all I make my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the GOSPEL from the first day until now.”
What does it mean that the Lord has remembered us. It does not mean that He once forgot us. It means that God is now actively present to us, revealing His deeds, love and care. We say God remembers us when He intervenes in our situation, answers our prayer, comes to our help, fulfils our yearning, our efforts yield bountiful fruits, etc.
Prophet Baruch reminds us today that those whom God remembers are those that responded to His word. He says, “See your children gathered from west and east, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them.” We have to heed the word of the Lord if we want Him to remember us when He comes.
It is good to ask the question: Where shall we hear the word of God? Today’s gospel reading gives an insight as it read: “the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The word of God is in the mouth of His heralds. What you are listening to now is the word of God, for I am His herald.
Today, what is the word we hear from His herald? John the Baptist, the herald of the Lord, challenges us to repent. Repentance is a change of heart, attitude and ways of life. Hence, prophet Baruch challenges us thus: “Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God.”
What is the beauty of the glory from God? He tells us in the word that follows: “Put on the robe of the righteousness from God”. It is the robe of righteousness that is the glory from God , for God says, “Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44-45.).
St. Paul prays for us thus: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Righteousness consists in living in accordance with the word of God. When we live righteously we put on the glory from God. Baruch also refers to it as the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting.
We repent to live righteously. When we repent we prepare the way for the Lord and fulfils the prophetic word of Isaiah: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." By our repentance we shall all see the salvation of the Lord.
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Amen (Collect)
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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