Homily (Reflection) for
the Fourth Sunday of Advent, (A) (18th December, 2016) on the Gospel
Is 7:10-14;
Ps 23:1-6. (R. cf.
vv. 7.10)
Rom 1:1-7;
Matt 1:18-24.
Topic: Called to be righteous.
Today is the fourth and the last
Sunday of Advent, the season of threefold preparation for the Lord as explained
in the homily for the First Sunday of Advent. It is important each person evaluate
the success of this season because we are expected to come to its end better
than who we were at its inception.
Today’s gospel reading tells us how
Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary
engaged to Joseph whom the bible describes as a righteous man. Some translators
prefer synonyms like good, upright, virtuous, just, pure, pious, religious,
saintly and so on to righteous. Considering how Jesus was conceived, what would
have happened if Joseph was not a righteous man? In Joseph, we see one who is
prepared for the coming of the one Jeremiah prophesied: “Behold, the days are
coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and
he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness
in the land” (Jer 23:5, cf. Jer 33:15). Truly, if Joseph was not
righteous the story would not have been the same. We must be righteous to be ready
for our Saviour.
Being righteous is the outcome of cooperation
with God’s grace in line with Jesus’ exhortation, (cf. Matt 5:48). God is righteous, cf. 2Chr 12:6, Ps 116:5, Ps 119:137, Ps 129:4 and “a
righteous judge” (Ps 7:11). Only the
righteous can enter God’s abode, (cf. Ps
118:20) and see His face, cf. Ps
11:7.
A righteous person walks with God,
cf. Gen 6:9. The Psalmist reiterated
that “the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will
perish” (Ps 1:6). Righteous person repays
good for evil, (1Sam 24:17) as Jesus
commands us to bless those who curse us and to pray for those who abuse us, cf.
Lk 6:28. The mouth of the righteous utters
wisdom and his tongue speaks justice (Ps
37:30). He or she also gives generously, cf. Ps 37:21. He is a man or woman of faith and lives through faith,
cf. Heb 10:38. Hence, the bible
tells us: “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain,
through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by
accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking” (Heb 11:4). Saint Peter writes: “… the
eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil." (1Pt 3:12, cf. Ps 34:15, 17,19, Ps 146:8). It is only the righteous who can praise
God, cf. Ps 33:1.
As we celebrate the last Sunday of
Advent, how many of us can be described as righteous persons just as Joseph? Whoever
cannot be described as one still have hope, God is still beckoning on us to confess
our sins and pray for one another that we may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous man has great power in its effects, cf. Jas 5:16. Do not be pulled down by your sins because “there is not
a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Eccl 7:20). Hence, in his letter to the Romans, Paul quoted Ps 14:1-3 "None is righteous, no,
not one” (Rom 3:10). First Letter of
St John reads: “If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just, and will
forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9). And in the gospel Jesus tells us “Go and learn what this
means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners" (Matt 9:13,
cf. Lk 19:10, Lk 5:32, Mk 2:17). We can cause great joy in heaven by
offering ourselves completely to God because “… there will be more joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents …” (Lk
15:7). What are you waiting for? Saint Peter asks us "If the righteous
man is scarcely saved, where will the impious and sinner appear?" (1Pt 4:18)
Saint John has an advice for us because we normally claim to
be righteous when we are not: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who
does right is righteous, as he is righteous” (1Jn 3:7). This is because “… it is not the hearers of the law who
are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified” (Rom 2:13). It is one who walks according
to God’s statutes and observes his ordinances carefully is righteous, cf. Ezek 18:9.
Bible Reading: Gen 18:16-33; Ex 23:1-9; Ps 34;
Ps 24; 37; Ezek 3:17-21; Ezek 18:1-32; 1Pt 4:12-19.
Thought for today: Are you righteous or evil before God?
Let us pray: Lord, as we wait for
the coming of your Son our Lord, Jesus Christ, may we be righteous in our thoughts,
words, and actions – Amen.
Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)
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