FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT- YEAR C

We should have peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others– Thomas Kempis -

“God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will”. Heb 10:7

As we come closer to Christmas, it is a very useful question to ask, why did the second person of the Blessed Trinity become man? Naturally, the answer that comes to us is that he became man to save us. But then one may press on and ask, why did he save us? And here the answer is given by Christ in the words of prophet “God here I am. I am coming to do obey your will”.

He was the only person who ever was and ever will be perfectly obedient to the will of God. He is one who never did what he liked, but what God liked. He was one sent by his Father. He was one under orders. He was not his own, he was God’s man. Jesus lived under the consciousness that he had not to do what he liked. We shall see him in his childhood-staying behind in Jerusalem. His remaining behind in Jerusalem. His reply to the parents was: “did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Later in his public life he will declare unequivocally, “I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me”- and he never failed in doing it-only he could claim: “I do always those things that please him”

The desire of Jesus is that we should be as He was- one of the reasons why there is not peace in the world is that so many people are at variance with the king of the universe. Our contribution to the world peace should not be mere words. Its also difficult to see the contribution of those who engage in arms-race. Piling up missiles is not what Christ taught as a means to peace. In the garden did he not order Peter to put away the sword? - “shall I not drink the chalice…?” “In his mind the way of peace was doing the Father’s will”

We all want happiness in this world. We spend sleepless nights planning for happiness- well and good. Very often we do not reckon with the divine wisdom of God in our plans. Three days ago a gentleman said to me: “I have a problem, I have prayed for a solution, Masses have been offered, I do not know whether there is a prayer I have not yet said. But no solution” I said I think you have said all the prayers, you can only repeat them! But what is your attitude to God’s will? - Its not by chance that Jesus included “The father’s will” in the prayer he taught us. If we set our human wisdom, not to say ignorance, against God’s wisdom, then we cannot find true happiness. To do God’s wisdom, then we cannot find true happiness. To do God’s will is the way to happiness.

We wish we could be assured of victory over our enemies- of course if we choose to go it alone we shall be like the man who fell among robbers- our victory on the other will be sure secure if we go God’s way- we then go in power- to do the will of God is to ensure victory in the battles of this life.

It’s just a matter of days to Christmas. The shops and markets will be very busy during the next four days- we shall spend money, time, and energy preparing for Christmas- well and good.- but we should not forget the life of the soul- we can very comfortably concentrate on the aspect of God’s will- its said that Wilberforce was a little, insignificant and ailing person. When he rose to address the House of Commons the members at first smiled at the queer little figure- But gradually his message, his task, the flame of truth and dynamics power conquered his physical weakness. A great task can lift a man above and beyond bodily weakness and demands. This is why Christ could forget all about food. The will of his Father was too great a task- seek God’s will for yourself. Have the courage to do it- In this way you will have peace, happiness and power for victory-the best Christmas gift.

Peace without truth is poison – German proverb
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Padre Joseph Nyamunga Mubiru
P.O.BOX 15318-00509
NAIROBI-KENYA
BLOG: http://nyamusus.blogspot.com
Mob. +254-722-585-329

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Readings: Zeph 3:14-18; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

Theme: “Rejoice in the Lord; again I say: rejoice. Give proof to all of your
forbearance (let your discipline be known to all) the Lord is near”

“Love your neighbour, but do not pull down the hedge” - Swiss proverb –

The leading idea in today’s liturgy is “The Lord is at hand” it is today’s focal point.
The Christian thinks of the Lord as someone who is always at hand. Not as someone who once lived visibly among us and has simply gone away to Heaven. For the Christian the Lord is abiding with him in his spirit. He finds him in his word. He sees him in various circumstances of life. The Lord is nearby, he sees him in his fellow man in spite of his weakness and malice. He sees him in his various circumstances of life. The Lord is nearby, he is at hand in the sense that “He is coming”, he is coming to penetrate into the life of the Christian, to take full possession of him, to absorb his life ever more.
It’s that kingdom, the coming which we pray for daily, which is near. Its not externally visible, it’s something entirely interior, it is holy and supernatural. Its not morality and virtue; its life, that higher life over which physical death has no power. It’s the spiritual light which disperses the darkness and guides the soul. It is peace, and love, and truth. It is the Trinity Himself abiding in us. The Lord is near, St. Paul reminds us.
The result of this nearness of God is joy. “Rejoice in the Lord”. We are reminded and advised, exhorted to rejoice. We need to be reminded because we do not rejoice enough. We do not rejoice as we ought to. Because the Lord is near, because we are united with Christ because we live in Him and carry out our actions through his grace. We must rejoice through his grace. The Christian who is animated by a strong faith, one, who lives the doctrine of the lord’s in dwelling in us, will not allow the troubles of life to dampen his joy.
The kingdom of God is the foundation of Christian optimism. The Christian should be a bearer of peace and joy. Our spiritual joy here below is the foretaste of heavenly joy hereafter. “And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrim rejoicing to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name” Act 5:41. to rejoice, even in adversity, is a Christian virtue.
We have a moral lesson from the leading idea. “Give proof to all your forbearance” “Let your discipline be known to all” to be a Christian consists in having the kingdom of God, which is supernatural grace in a person. To be virtuous and moral is necessary consequence. This is how we reason: since I have the privilege of having God living in my heart. Since I have the kingdom of God developing within me, it follows that I must live virtuously; it is the “Noblesse oblige”. The word ‘discipline’ ‘forbearance’ is not the best translation for the Latin word “Modestia” = modesty, decency, good conduct. This is what ‘discipline’ means here. Perhaps we could say: let your noble Christian bearing be known to all men. Your goodness, your kindness, your inner peace, all these should be known to all. Men should see that Christians are considerate, helpful, candid and loving.
Let us turn to today’s readings to prayer: that peace and joy in Christ Jesus may dwell evermore in our hearts that we may bless the eternal Father for calling us into the kingdom of his son that we may be one, and enjoy peace. That our Christians attitude in Jesus Christ may be plain to all. That all may meet Christ in us. Amen

Padre Joseph Nyamunga Mubiru
P.O.BOX 15318-00509
NAIROBI-KENYA
BLOG: http://nyamusus.blogspot.com
Mob. +254-722-585-329

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

THE JOY OF SALVATION

Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6

“If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere” - W. A Sunday -

Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its spring down inside, and that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross. It is an unknown word and thing except as he has sway within.
Awaiting for Christ so that he may reveal himself and make his presence felt in a new way giving us an intense experience of the joy of salvation. That joy does not come to us by lighting a Christmas light, balloons, cards and planting “father Christmas” at the gates of supermarkets. Salvation is free, yes, but it is not cheap. We have to work for it; breaking the chains we have bound ourselves with moments in our lives that render our hearts as incapable of even seeing the salvation.
What are these things that block us from being saved in order to welcome the messiah? Selfishness which stops us from doing a kind act, the resentment that blocks communication, the falsehood that betrays trust, the pride that preludes true regard of others, and the communal prejudice that can destroy a society. John the Baptist reiterates Isaiah’s message “make ready the way of the Lord and clear him a straight path” (Luke 3:4).
The joy of salvation is not the private property of any Christian; but dividing your joy with others. You can’t consume joy without producing it. We can do this by promoting justice in our small Christian communities, local church and in the world. (Peace of justice Bar 5:2, 4); so that “all mankind shall see the salvation of God” Luke 3:6.
It’s our duty to promote the gospel message so that the entire world “may be found rich in the harvest of justice which Christ has ripened in us” (Phil 1:11). Thus the rough ways, the twisted roads and the steep paths are to be negotiable for he is coming.
Examine your hope! How deep is it? We can be content with what the world has to offer, and forget all about heaven. We can trust our abilities to the extent of excluding assistance. Think of a modern state. If you have a good civil service, good judiciary, and good security force, faithful husband and wife of substance and good citizens, generally speaking and there you will see a strong nation. God’s kingdom grows deep by faith, hope and love.
Prayer is another aspect to examine. Do you still pray? But there are times when your “AMEN” or any other response is so faint that you wonder whether you are praying! Private prayer has not lost its importance. In fact community and public prayers will be difficult if it is not nourished by private prayer. Do I pray? How often? How well? Try to be virtuous in the world today and you will be called a coward! Because you are fair and just to everyone, because you are respectful and obedient, because you love purity and chastity, you will be called, over prudent, immaculate etc. And this is what it must be for the kingdom of heaven as violence, and it is the courageous who acquire it.


“The supreme happiness of life is the conviction of being loved for yourself, or more correctly, of being loved of yourself”
- Victor Hugo


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Padre Joseph Nyamunga Mubiru
P.O.BOX 15318-00509
NAIROBI-KENYA
BLOG: http://nyamusus.blogspot.com/
Mob. +254-722-585-329