Reflection/Homily: Third (3rd) Sunday of Advent Year A

Theme: What is Jesus actually coming to do?

Within this period of advent, as we prepare for the arrival of Christ, some might be asking of what physical value will Christ’s arrival be to them. As the savior, what kind of salvation will he bring? Will he save us from the economic dungeon we have found ourselves? Will his arrival bring peace to our troubled world? Will he create jobs, reconcile political opposites and administer justice to the oppressed? These are pertinent questions that yearn for answers. John the Baptist in the Gospel reading (Mtt. 11:2-11) also found himself asking this type of question. He was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel and it was not out of place for him to think that Christ whose arrival would bring liberty to captives would at least visit him in prison or liberate him from the hands of Herod. When Christ’s visit to his prison was not forthcoming, he had to send his disciples to ask if he is actually the Christ. Of course, he is the Christ but he has a special mission.

Homily for 1st Sunday of Advent Year A By Fr. Munachi Ezeogu, CSSp

Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:37-44

On the Gospel, Making Ready for the Lord's Coming

John F. Kennedy is said to be very fond of a particular story. During his 1960 presidential campaign he often used it to close his speeches. It is the story of Colonel Davenport, Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives back in 1789. One day, while the House was in session, the sky of Hartford suddenly grew dark and gloomy. Some of the representatives looked out the windows and thought this was a sign that the end of the world had come. An uproar ensued with the representatives calling for immediate adjournment. But Davenport rose and said, “Gentlemen, the Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.” Candles were brought and the session continued.

Reflection/Homily: First (1st) Sunday of Advent Year A

Uwakwe Reflections: 5 Years Anniversary Edition

Reflection/Homily: First (1^st) Sunday of Advent Year A

Theme: Behold the Lord is Coming

On this first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new liturgical year (A), the first in her three year cycle. The season of advent is a special season in which the Church prepares for the arrival of the Lord, her bridegroom. The Church speaks of this arrival in three historical strands. The first is the first coming at Bethlehem as the Prince of Peace. The second is the second coming at the Parousia as Judge while the third is the daily coming of Jesus into our lives as Lord and Master. For us Christians, this should be a special period of encounter with Christ. It is a period that reminds us of His first coming, urges us to prepare for His second coming and makes us conscious of His daily coming into our lives. To encounter Christ, the first reading (Is. 2:1-5) invites us to “go up to the mountain of the Lord”. It is an invitation to encounter God in the Holy Mountain where He dwells.

Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4th) Sunday of Advent Year A (Dec. 22 2013)

Short Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4^th) Sunday of Advent Year A (Dec. 22 2013)

Theme: Emmanuel – God is With Us

In the gospel reading (Mt. 1:18-24), we see the evangelist presenting Christ as the fulfillment of the Emmanuel Prophecy which Isaiah recorded in the first reading (Is. 7:10-14). Today, the Church invites us to reflect on the identity of Jesus as the “God-with-us”. He has come to dwell among His people to assist us in our needs and to save us from all evil. As the season of Advent gradually comes to an end, we are reminded today that at Christmas, we celebrate the anniversary of His glorious incarnation; the manner in which He came to be with us. 

For over 2,000 years, Jesus has been with us in the Church, in the Sacraments of the Church especially the Eucharist and even in our brothers and sisters. As we celebrate Christmas, do you still recognize the God who has been with us? Did you feel His impact in your life all through the year especially at those difficult moments you were victorious? As we celebrate the anniversary of His birth, how can you repay Him for the joy He has caused you and for the salvation He brought you? You can do this by becoming a true apostle like St. Paul in the 2^nd Reading (Rom. 1:1-7) who will disseminate the gospel of Christ this Christmas not just by words of mouth but by example. 

You can do this by the practice of virtues and the avoidance of vices. Examples include: refusing to cheat anyone this Christmas in your business, demanding a just reward for your services and being generous to people especially the less privileged. As you do this, may the joy of Christmas ever abide with you. Have a Christ-filled celebration. Happy Sunday!

Reflection/Homily: Second (2nd) Sunday of Advent Year A (December 8 2013)

Reflection/Homily: Second (2^nd) Sunday of Advent Year A (December 8 2013)

Theme: Prepare the Way of the Lord

700 years before the birth of Christ, the people of Israel lived in a period of political and religious crises. It was a time when their secular and religious leaders were wavering in their loyalty to Yahweh. There were abundance of vices that idolatry and paganism became the order of the day. True religion was sacrificed on the altar of subjectivity and it was clear that the society was heading to doom. At this moment, those who remained faithful to Yahweh were in the depths of despair. They thought God had abandoned them and forgotten the promises He made to their ancestors. It was against this backdrop that Isaiah spoke the prophetic words we heard in the first reading (Is. 11:1-10). Isaiah dispelled the people’s fear and despair by assuring them that God had not abandoned His people. He told them that out of the remnant of Israel, God would raise a new Davidic king who would establish peace and a glorious kingdom of justice on earth.

This prophecy was however fulfilled in the New Testament in the person of Jesus. He is the expected Davidic king who is to establish peace and a kingdom of righteousness on earth. He spent his 33 years on earth establishing this glorious kingdom on earth. The Church is this new kingdom established by Christ. The first reading in dramatic terms described that in this kingdom, “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them”. This is only a pictorial description of the peace that reigns in the Church where God brings together the mighty and the lowly and yet they worship Him with one heart. The Church is the place where the Jews and the Gentiles, the saints and the sinners can comfortably assemble together under one head and under one roof.

Reflection/Homily: First (1st) Sunday of Advent Year A (December 1 2013)

Reflection/Homily: First (1^st) Sunday of Advent Year A (December 1 2013)

Uwakwe Reflections: 2 Years Anniversary Edition

Theme: Behold the Lord is Coming

On this first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new liturgical year (A), the first in her three year cycle. The season of advent is a special season in which the Church prepares for the arrival of the Lord. The Church speaks of this arrival in three historical strands. The first is the first coming at Bethlehem as the Prince of Peace. The second is the second coming at the Parousia as Judge while the third is the daily coming of Jesus into our lives as Lord and Master. For us Christians, this should be a special period of encounter with Christ. It is a period that reminds us of His first coming, urges us to prepare for His second coming and makes us conscious of His daily coming into our lives. To encounter Christ, the first reading (Is. 2:1-5) invites us to “go up to the mountain of the Lord”. It is an invitation to encounter God in the Holy Mountain where He dwells.