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
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