Zep 3:14-18; Ps (Is 12); Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18
Rejoice, the Lord is with you
Dear friends, today is the 3rd Sunday of the Advent season commonly known as Laudate Sunday, which means, “rejoice”. Today we light the pink candle on the Advent Wreathe that symbolizes joy because our saviour is about to be born, our help is in our midst. When we find ourselves in trouble or serious problems, some encourage us and make us not lose hope. There is joy in the heart when the prospects are looking good and when there is a kind of reassurance that things will be fine. For example, when someone is very sick and in excruciating pain, the encouraging words from the doctor and the visitors are more healing than the medicine itself.
Prophet Zephaniah exalts the people of Israel who had gone through a lot of suffering at the hands of their enemies. We know that the prosperity or otherwise calamity of the people of Israel was a direct consequence of their obedience or disobedience to the commandments of Yahweh. Zephaniah tells them to rejoice because, “the Lord has repealed your sentence, and has driven your enemies away”.
The people living in walling countries are forced to stay indoors or hide to avoid gunfire. The good news to them is when there is a declaration of a cease-fire or a peace deal. You may be experiencing some sort of gunfire around you now. People aiming at you to destroy your life, relationship, marriage, family, career, business, or your faith. Today the good news is “Rejoice your help is in your midst”. St. Paul says, “Be happy and do not worry; but if there is anything you need, ask God for it with prayer and thanksgiving”. The surest way to conquer fear is to trust in God.
At the preaching of John the Baptist, different people came to him asking what to do so that the day of the Lord might find them on the right side. For the tax collectors, John responded, “Exact no more than your rate”, because these people used to overcharge taxes to enrich themselves. For the soldiers, he said, “Do not intimidate or extort, be content with your pay”, because they used their authority to harass people and extort money from them. What is your career? What would John the Baptist tell you? Stop gossiping? Stop lying? Do not be jealous and envious? Work hard and earn an honest living?
Dear friends, there is a lot of injustice is society today. Most of it is caused by the corruption of basic human values such as love and care for one another. There are so many poor people today not because there is not enough for everyone but because of greed and corruption of a few. The corrupt public service systems deny the citizenry basic services, and this cripples their development. Public officials are paid by tax of the people to render them service. However, the sad reality is that many of these officials demand extra payment from the poor to offer them the very services they are paid to render. If you take bribes to render services to the public know that you need redemption. Proceeds of corruption will never bring true prosperity.
Take for example the justice system. So many poor people have become even poorer because justice has become too expensive. Recently we tried to rescue a fourteen-year-old girl from forced marriage. The father was hell-bent to get the cows paid as dowry. We almost succeeded but some corrupt officials took bribes and the girl went missing.
Dear friends, when the world is so corrupt, the only refuge for the poor is the message of the Messiah who is to be born. I would like you to reflect and see if you are part of those who make life difficult for others by being corrupt, or if you are part of those who help out and alleviate their sufferings.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 