THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LOVE

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Wherever He enters, He makes Holy. The family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is called Holy because of the presence of the child Jesus. The feast of the Holy Family commemorates their life together as the celebration focuses on religious family life. The Feast Day was officially instituted by Pope Benedict XV in 1921, and was then moved from being celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany to the Sunday after Christmas in 1969. The feast of Holy Family is not celebrated to prove the shortcomings of our natural families. This feast does not exist to make our various families feel less in dignity; even though some families are marked by some shame. The family remains the nucleus of every society. It is the domestic Church that contains the very first set of people we meet in life. One thing so fascinating about the family is that we do not really choose its members. We are simply placed by God in any family we find ourselves. This is what the existentialist Philosophers such as Jean Paul Satre regards as facticity (the character of the thrownness of our being). We are thrown into our families. We do not choose our parents or our siblings. This is what God does for us.

After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 in the United States of America, on the World Trade Centre, Queen Elizabeth 11 of England in her condolence message was clear to the Americans that nothing that was said can ever take away the grief and anguish the people were passing. In her words, she said “Grief is the price we pay for love.” This sentence is very relevant to the feast we celebrate today. Every one of us would agree that no one can actually love us like the love from family which is natural. No one can also hurt us like family when they disappoint. The family remains the epicentre of love. We receive our first love there, our first cries, our first joy, our first hope; and indeed, our first ‘everything.’ To portray this family importance, the Igbos would say: iwe nwanne anaghi eru n’okpukpu (the grief against a brother does not last), ozu shiwe ushi, enyi ka nwanne agbaa oso (only the family can really stick to us in times of trouble. The words of Elizabeth 11 to Americans that grief is the price we pay for love makes us understand ourselves when we go an extra mile to love, forgive, help and care for family members, even when they have disappointed us over and over again.

Remembering the pains Joseph had passed through since the pregnancy of Mary, the flight into Egypt and now the words of Simeon to Mary in the Gospel (Luke 2:22-40) opens to our minds the love from family. They did not give. They continued to love and cherish their son. After his nunc dimittis, Simeon said to the mother of the child in Luke 2:34-35: Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the secret thoughts of many may be revealed. Mary’s choice together with the choice of Joseph to love Christ in a society that was replete with sycophancy surely has some consequences. It will bring them grief. And so, grief is the price they would pay for loving Jesus. Even this Holy Family had this grief. Even when it appears that the more we love, the more we suffer grief –never you stop loving your family. As holy as this family was, there was still grief. Mary would pass through a lot, ranging from the ministry of Jesus, to his passion, crucifixion and death, she remained focused. She endured everything.

The lesson we learn here is this character of endurance for the sake of our family members. We also see this character of enduring pains and grief in the First Reading (Gen. 15:1-6; 21:1-3) in the life of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was afraid for his childlessness. He was childless, yes, but he had no intention to divorce Sarah, or to marry another wife. The Lord knew his heart and then came to him to calm him. Abraham was concerned that a servant born in his household will become his heir. God in turn promises Abraham that his own son will be his heir. Abraham responded in faith, and had to set aside his worries, fears and doubts. His righteousness is built on the basis of this response. His total reliance upon God puts him in right relationship to God. He waited patiently on the Lord. It was in chapter 21 that this promise was fulfilled. The child didn’t come immediately, yet Abraham believed and waited. At a very old age, Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

Endurance is fanned by faith. The endurance of Abraham to love and stick to his wife despite all odds, and to believe and wait patiently for the Lord’s time is a result of faith. This is exactly what the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews made us to understand about Abraham. Many times, the writer uses the formula, by faith. By faith, Abraham obeyed God. By Faith, Sarah got conceived. By faith too, Abraham trusted God’s fidelity by trying to offer his only son, Isaac. By faith, Mary endured the pains of being the mother of Jesus. It is by faith that every family will survive. By faith, we can bear one another’s grief and pains. By faith, we garner the doggedness to pay the price of love. May we never as a family relegate the importance of faith. At this day which is the last this year 2017, my prayers are that every family will receive and abide by this gift of faith, and carry it over to 2018. Amen. God bless you.

THE WORD HAS BEEN MADE FLESH

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST (CHRISTMAS DAY)

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

The newly born Jesus is singing for you my dear friends and readers today. He sings: A no m n’etiti unu, udo diri unu. Ano m n’etiti unu. Ano m ya, ano m ya. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men who are God’s friends.

AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH; AND DWELT AMONG US. It is Christmas. It is the day of the Lord. It is the most important day that marked some continuity in discontinuity in the history of humanity. What do I mean by that? Socio-economically, the birth of Jesus inaugurated a fresh calculation in the global calendar. Thus, without any breakage in history, emphasis was shifted to Anno Domini. The birth of the Lord became an epicentre of the global history. Spiritually, the birth of the Lord marked a palpable step by God towards the liberation of humanity in the hypostatic union (the divine-human union in Christ). The oracle of Isaiah was fulfilled. Our victory over sin and death has received an insurmountable appearance. Humanity has indeed received the omnipotent back-up. Humanity too has received her greatest privilege of having God in the form with which he made us. This is Christmas.

The very first sentence of the Gospel Reading (John 1:1-18) summarizes the eternal status of the logos (the word) who is Jesus Christ. It is about this singular Word that the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews in the Second Reading (Heb. 1:1-6) states that God has spoken to us by a son as against the prophets of old. God’s manifestation of Himself to the people takes some form of progressive stages. Hence, the stage in which the word became flesh is the highest of all revelations.  

In the beginning was the word...

It is John’s great idea that Jesus is none other than God’s creative, life-giving and light-giving word; the power with which the world was created and the reason for which the world is sustained. The sentence in the beginning was the word can be placed side by side with the very first sentence in the Bible: in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen1:1). By using the same formulation (in the beginning) as of the first sentence of the Bible, John tries to make us understand that the Word was not part of the created things. The word possesses the character of eternity. This Word which is uncreated never existed apart from God. The Word was with God. There was never a time when the Word separated Himself from God. And if there can be any person to tell us about and to lead us to the Father, that one person is Jesus the Christ who has never lived a life apart from the Father. The Word was God. This same Word that never was separated from God had every attribute that God has, in such a manner that anywhere and anytime, He is God. Jesus hence was so perfectly identical with God. In Him, we perfectly see what God is like. To have seen Jesus is to have seen the Father. When Jesus works, it is the Father that works (cf. John 14:10-12). And because Jesus is everything as the Father, He is a Creator.

Many people have failed to understand the power that lies in the words of our mouths. God’s word made the world. God’s word was made flesh in Jesus Christ. The word is so powerful. The Lord sends out His word and it melts every hardened structure (Ps. 147:18). With this omnipotence that lies in His mouth, the Lord made man, and breathed into him (cf. Gen 2:7). Since then, man’s word also assumed this power since he is also created in the image and likeness of God. How many times have we uttered bad words with our mouths? How many times have we cursed people with our mouths? The word of man can as well be powerful. Try your best to control the words of your mouth. The very best we can do is to utter words of blessings to people. Remember that the word made flesh is a blessing to all of us. Jesus is the best thing that happened to humanity.

The word of the Lord also guides and protects us. Psalm 119:105 unequivocally stated that the word of the Lord is a lamp for our feet and a light for our paths. Proverb 30:5 states: every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Hence, the word made flesh is pure and was actually made flesh to direct us, guide us and protect us. The Word made flesh who is born for humanity today has come to show us the way and protect us as we journey towards the light.

It is the visibility of this word made flesh that we celebrate this Christmas season. Christmas is the feast of merciful love. The love of God was made palpable through the nativity of Him who as son is God. We must imitate our Lord by loving God as He loves us and loving our neighbours as ourselves.

Christmas uplifts. The season of Christmas is here to initiate such grace of been sought after, of being made popular due to the way people regard us and believe in us. Christmas initiates a paradigm shift in the life of all; it raises a nobody to somebody, the rejected to most welcomed, the disregarded to most regarded, and the forsaken to most visited. It is not for no reason that the first witnesses of the nativity of Christ were the shepherds. Shepherds were those looked down upon, and they were not respected. Yet, they were the first witnesses of the nativity.

Christmas comes with a message. The message is simple. Christ, our king is born. He is born in our midst to save us and to ensure that the devil is completely destroyed. We must conform our lives to that of the king for a total crush of the enemy and for the holistic salvation of our body and souls.

Christmas must lead you along the path of reflection. We must reflect on the great mystery of the God-man’s nativity. We must remember that this great mystery has the foundation of God’s love for humanity. We must develop serious love for humanity and for the earth. We must care for the earth and must show some charity to our neighbours.

Christmas must make us to glorify God. We must glorify and thank God for the super opportunity He has given us in Jesus. So, Christmas should never pass by without our offering great words of blessing to God for this singular favour. We can as well learn through this act to thank those who were of help to us in the past. Saying thank you does not cost us anything, but even adds more to what we are. Happy Christmas, dear Friends. Felix Navidad. May the Christmas season usher new tidings to your homes and your lives. God bless you.

THE MOMENT OF DELIVERY HAS COME

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

I hear the cries of a woman in labour. I see her calling on her husband for help. I see everyone around running around to help. The woman writhes and weeps in her labour pains (cf. Isaiah 26:17), but remains hopeful that her weeping would soon come to a halt. Yes, the hour of delivery is not an easy one but a sorrowful one; however, when the child is delivered, the woman no longer remembers the moments of anguish but she is filled with joy that a child has been born (John 16:21). The woman will soon forget what she went through during the labour pains because of the joy that overwhelms her. The delivery of this child will be the delivery of deliverance, of salvation, of freedom, of love, of an ultimate revelation, of healing, of progress, and of total breakthrough out of sin and shame. The name of this child according to the angel Gabriel is Jesus. He will be so great, and will be called the son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end (cf. The Gospel of today, Luke 1:26-38).

What is the throne of David? This question links us to the First reading (2 Sam 7:1-5.8b-12.14a.16). David was burning with the zeal to build a house for the Lord, having seen where, he, a mere mortal lived. He wanted to give God who dwelt in the Ark of the Covenant a house more befitting than a tent. He consulted with the prophet Nathan, who told him to go on with his plans. The Lord then appeared to Nathan and disclosed to him the dynasty which David as a king has as a result of this noble intention. This is the Davidic dynasty. And so, the throne of David can be understood in not less than five points.

• It is a beloved throne. It is a throne hereby God is the father and the occupant is the son: I will be his father and he shall be my son. The name ‘David’ means ‘beloved’. As such, David manifested himself as a king as a beloved of God, who having seen the love of God in his life was challenged to respond to that love of God. Hence, the occupant of this throne must be a beloved of God. Christ is the beloved son of the Father, and so extends eternally this throne of David. And so, the throne of Christ becomes the throne of love.
• It is a throne of grace. Grace makes you to achieve things which naturally you would not have achieved. In 1 Sam 16:1-13, we witness how grace led David to be anointed, even when he was not the expected one out of the eight sons of Jesse. Even as the last born, he became the first choice. By human standard, he does not merit the kingship, but by divine standard, he was the man. Do not also forget that it was by grace that Christ came to be born. Mary was full of grace. And so, the throne of Christ becomes the throne of grace.
• The throne of David is one of divine election. The anointing of David confirms him as the choice of God. No one takes this honour upon himself. The story of David authenticates his charismatic title to rule as a divinely elected king. God was with David wherever he went. The Lord was with him, and helped him to win every battle he went to. The Lord too was with Christ even from the moment of his conception. And so, the child to be born is the chosen one of God. He is to be called holy, the son of God, who is coming to establish the kingdom of God on earth.
•  It is the throne of victory. The throne of David was one that defeated nations around her. We are duly informed that God gave David rest from all his enemies. The two most important steps in the consolidation of David’s monarchy were the capture of Jerusalem and the defeat of the Philistines. David was the one who defeated Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 and gave victory to his people. Through this way, David prevailed over the Philistines with a sling and with a stone (1 Sam 17:50). Christ is the sign of our victory. He conquered sin and death. His name ‘Jesus’ means that he is our Saviour. And so, the child to be born is a threat to everything that works against us.
• It is a throne of eternity. The throne of God shall be made sure forever before the Lord. And the message of God to David goes this way: I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom...and your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. His kingdom will have no end. In Christ, the mystery which was hidden for ages is disclosed.

This is the package this pregnant woman is bearing in her womb. The name of this woman is Mary. She is the chosen one, the first tabernacle of this king, the first palace of this king. And so, she is loyal. As the last Sunday of Advent, we are poised to visit this new born king. We are ready to venerate him. We are ready to rejoice with the Holy Family. The ultimate revelation of this baby is about to be made. This is why the Second Reading (Rom. 16:25-27) makes us know that the revelation kept hidden for ages is now disclosed. Christ is the true Messiah. We thank God for making us partakers of this great mystery. We are thus in our various ways like the pregnant Mary, the mother of Jesus.

As partakers of this mystery and as individual ‘Marys’, we need to discover in ourselves individually what we are pregnant of. Today, Mary is pregnant of the child Jesus who she will soon deliver. And you, what do you think you are pregnant of? She carries a saviour in her; one who would bring about our salvation and liberation, and would be a light to the Gentiles. She will deliver salvation, love, liberation, light, miracle, healing, etc. What will you yourself deliver? Will you deliver rancour, hatred, cries, disappointments, frustration, etc. to the extent that those who live dream that you never existed, to the extent that people avoid, and to the extent that you make people regret ever meeting you. As Mary’s time of delivery has come, our time too has come. Be ready to show us what you have got inside of you.

As the Psalmist rightly observed, some of us are pregnant with malice and evil (cf. Psalm 7:14). Whoever is pregnant with malice can only conceive evil and will give birth to disillusionment or lies. Lies bring about rancour, quarrel, disappointments, hatred and many other vices. We must make sure we are not conceiving evil. Do not plan evil against your friend, neighbour, brother, or sister. Do not say evil of them. Do not do evil against them. We must all be pregnant of goodness, and must give birth to truthfulness, fidelity, love, and unity. In this sense, the number of those who will experience the joy of Christmas will be multiplied. As we make assiduous efforts towards this, may God continue to be our help through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

WHY MUST WE REJOICE?

HOMILY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

The period of waiting can really be boring or exhaustive. To wait needs patience. A friend once narrated his ordeal as he waited for a guest who failed to come at the scheduled time. Both friends had scheduled the arrival time. The guest had cancelled every other appointment he had, for he decided to be at home to welcome his guest so as to accord him the respect for their friendship. Along the line, something inhibited the guest from arriving at the agreed time. The host got disappointed and regretting having cancelled his appointment decided to leave to attend to some other pressing issues. He was annoyed due to the boredom he witnessed as a result of the time wasted. He locked up his house and off he went. He had thought to himself to pay back his guest in his own coin. He must wait for me, he reasoned, whenever he arrives to feel the pains of waiting for another. Sometimes, preparation and eager waiting can be met with boredom and anger if on one hand, the strength and the zeal of the one waiting dwindles, or on another hand, the waiter gets the impression that the preparation and waiting may finally be in vain.

The Advent season is a period of waiting eagerly for the saviour. It goes with various preparations and alertness. However, we are exhorted never to lose focus of patience as we wait. We are not permitted to nurse the impression of relaxing or even giving up on preparation. This is why it is necessary to pause a while and refuel our souls for the spiritual preparation and look-out for the coming of the king. This is why we must rejoice. This is why we must guide against any form of boredom or interest killer. We have to live in joy. This is the message of this Sunday which is properly called Gaudete Sunday. The three Readings all contain this singular message of being joyful. The First Reading (Is. 61:1-2a.10-11) went personally to state that “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God.” The Second Reading (1 Thes. 5:16-24) came in the form of a strong admonition: “Rejoice always.” The Gospel Reading went ahead to give us a very powerful reason why we must rejoice: it is because among you stands one whom you do not know. These readings call our attention to the fact that we must live in joy, and never let anything or reality to dampen our spirits. Why must we live in Joy? The readings unravel three reasons for us.

1) We must live in joy because we have been anointed to do God’s work. God does not send us on a mission without empowering us. The Prophet Isaiah enumerated the mission that goes with our anointing. We are anointed to bring news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. We are heralds and emissaries sent for this. And as messengers, we need to bear faces that can attract people to buy our message. We must be joyful. Pulling long faces can only make people scared of us. When those who are on this mission live in joy, the people that encounter may live in the imagination of how joyful they are. Then can they desire to identify with that message that gives joy.

2) We must live in joy because it is the will of God. Every lifestyle has its code of conduct. Every group has its own constitution. Our constitution is the will of God. We must live in joy and never despair because God wants us to be joyful. St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians who were almost giving up on hope based on the preaching on the second coming of Christ. people had stopped working and had abandoned their daily pursuits to wait for the coming with a kind of panic-stricken expectancy. So, Paul had to write to them to be calm and not fearful and to go about their normal duties. He gave them series of advice. The Thessalonians were imagining the fate of those who died before the second coming, and that led them into panic. Paul had to give them three major features of knowing a true Church. The first is that it is a happy church: hence they must rejoice. Christianity must make us feel uplifted and not depressed. The second is it must be a praying Church; hence they must pray. Christianity must make us realize the importance of prayer individually and communally. The third is that it must be a thankful church; hence, they must give thanks. Christianity must make us realize that here is always something for which we can give thanks to God.

3) We must live in joy because Christ who we are waiting for is already in our midst. He is among us already. We need only to make effort to discover who he is and where he is. This is why John the Baptist in the Gospel told the people that in their midst already stood the messiah, the one the thong of whose sandals he was unable to untie. He was not even fit to be the slave of the Messiah. Since he is in our midst, our salvation is with us. We must focus our attention on the Christ just as John has directed us to him. John redirected all those who thought him as the anointed one. One of the things that can distract us from focusing on Christ is an improper focus or misleading information. Our livelihood in joy is that we were not misled and are not mislead. We have been shown the Christ, and so must rush to embrace Him and work so that the kingdom of God reigns forever.

May the celebration of joy lead us into its fullness during the Christmas season. God bless you.

MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT

HOMILY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

The person of John the Baptist is a fascinating one. He is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. In the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, mysterious happenings surrounded his birth. It started from the announcement to Zechariah by the Angel Gabriel, the Old age of the Parents, the dumbness of the father, the divinely chosen name, and the recognition by the unborn John of the presence of the unborn Jesus. These circumstances re-echo some prominent figures in the Old Testament. The events that surrounded John the Baptist recall the story of Abraham, the father of faith and place side by side the personality of the child with Isaac, the son of Abraham. The formula of announcement and the divinely chosen name of John re-enacts the announcement of the birth of Isaac and his divinely chosen name (Gen 17:19). The old age of the parents of John reminds us of the old age of the parents of Isaac (cf. Gen 21:1-7).

Some other OT personalities come to mind. The announcements of the birth of Samson (Judges 13:1-25) who possessed the same ascetic lifestyle with John; and that of Samuel (Sam. 1:1-20) contain admixtures which express analogous narration with that of John the Baptist. The stories of these personalities express through symbolism of the plan of God in the economy of salvation. Abraham and Isaac were chosen to establish a new people of God with a different mission. Samson was born to raise a person who can console the Israelites against the intimidation of the Philistines. Samuel had the mission to correct the errors of the children of Eli and to inaugurate a model of priesthood through another line. John the Baptist himself was born to become the forerunner of Jesus and to fulfil the message of the prophet Isaiah to make the ways of the Lord straight. John is that messenger sent to prepare the way of the Lord (Mal. 3:1) and his voice is that voice in the wilderness crying out and calling the people to repentance (cf. The First Reading, Isaiah 40:3): prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.

A careful study of the Gospel Reading of today has led us into selecting five major guidelines from the life and message of John for our journey towards proper repentance and preparation of the way of our Lord.

1) The Wilderness

Isaiah wrote that a voice cries in the wilderness. He wrote this during the Babylonian exile. The people were in despair; so Isaiah spoke of a new exodus that reminds the people of how they were led out of Egypt through the wilderness to the Promised Land. So, also, God would lead them out to Jerusalem through the wilderness. So, the wilderness here signifies a passage for freedom. It signifies a place where the people of God pass through out of slavery, hunger, intimidation, suffering, and cries to freedom, plenty, love, glory and joy. However, the wilderness is very significant in the life of Israel. It was there that God tested the people, the people rebelled and sinned, and it was there that God saved them again and again. The wilderness was indeed a crucible where the people became a nation. It was a route to their nationhood. It was a place the people sinned and where they also got repentance to restore their relationship with God. It is in this that we see why the message of John was heard from the wilderness.

The wilderness played special role in the liberation of the people. And this provides an answer to those who are tempted to ask why John must cry out from the wilderness. Another answer is that John the Baptist was an embodiment of Elijah who associated with the wilderness (cf. 1 Kings 17:2-3) and the Scripture promised the return of Elijah (Mal. 4:5). John’s cry from the wilderness is a clarion call to go back to our root and to remember how God saves us as a people. So, it is a place of reminiscence that reminds us to never forget the wonders God has done in our lives. Make yourself to hear this cry sounding from the wilderness. Remember how good the Lord has been to you, and be quick to repent. In like manner, remember how good that person whom you have offended has been to you, and be ready to make amends this period.

2) The Congregation of John

The Gospel recorded that people came all the way from Judea and Jerusalem to receive the baptism of John which called for repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is significant. Remember, from the biblical history, before the coming of John, it has been more than three hundred years since a prophet was active in Israel. So, the people thought that the era of the prophets is gone. So, learning of John the Baptist, they flock to him. They have indeed longed for a prophet. The people of Jerusalem are clearly drawn in mass towards John who appeared unexpectedly. John’s location in the wilderness identifies him, not only with Israelite history, but also with the freshness that makes it possible for people to repent and to rid themselves of sins. Ironically indeed, the people who go out to the city for its excitement have again regained the real excitement through the life of a prophet. We need a prophet. Our era needs a prophet who can attract people and tell them the truth of their salvation.

Not only had that people gone to the wilderness to hear John. The wilderness was part of the attraction. Many a time, the challenges of Urban settlement make us dream of our rural areas. Drawn to the city by the promise of money and excitement, people find themselves yearning for that which they left behind –fraternal neighbourhood, realistic friendliness, and an unpretentious living. This is what we do this Christmas period. We live the noise and distraction of the city for our indigenous homes. But one question remains: What is it that attracts you to go back to your village for the celebration of Yuletide? I pray you find your attraction in the call for repentance and going back to the root to make peace with all your family members and to share with them.

3) The River Jordan

John was baptising in the river Jordan. Here, the river Jordan is the river of baptism. Baptism means to immerse, dip or plunge. So, the method of John’s baptism was immersion into the river Jordan. This immersion/baptism was done for repentance (a metanoia, change of direction) for the forgiveness of sins. There are two traditions which reflect this type of baptism: one was the ritual bathing of the Qumran community. This was done for spiritual purification. And John was alleged to have been a member of this community. The second was the cleansing of Proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism) by immersion into water. This was performed as a sort of initiation exercise. Clearly, John’s baptism was different. It was not only for Gentiles nor only for ritual bathing, but also for the forgiveness of sin.

The river Jordan is the place for this baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. It becomes a place where both Jews and Gentiles can come and be baptised; a place of the foundation of a new people bound together by the repentant spirit, and not by their ethnic divisions. This is a preparation for the reign of the one coming after John who is the king of all, and who knows no division. Where is our river Jordan today? Where is that place that we can be called to forget our ethnic and racial differences and focus on the important matter, which is repentance? That river Jordan can be your home. It can be the church. It can be your shop. It can even be in your office. It can even be in the means of transportation. You are charged today to become a founder of the river Jordan in many places you find yourself.

4) John’s Clothing and Food

John was clothed with a camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. This leads us to recall the description of Elijah (2Kings 1:8) as a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist, and Daniel (Dan 1:8-16) who rejected the royal meal and demanded for vegetables and water. John was an ascetic. He sacrificed the pleasures of clothing and food for his mission. What do you sacrifice for your mission? What will you give away to put smiles on the faces of some others this Christmas? What will be your contribution in making sure that the repentance does not end in you, but becomes contagious in the sense that people desire it because of the contact they have made with you?

5) The Message of John

John preached saying After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. The people flocked around John but he redirected them to the one coming. John shows himself very humble by admitting that the one to come is more powerful than himself. The task of loosening someone’s sandals is considered so menial that anybody can do it. In Israel, only slaves do that for their masters. So, John establishes that the gap between a slave and a master is even closer when compared with the gap between him and the Christ. The point here is that Jesus the Christ, the King we await has an amazing importance and pride of place.

Jesus is the dispenser of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He would fulfil the oracle of Isaiah concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (cf. Isa. 32:15; 44:3). In John 1:33, it is on Him whom the Spirit descends during the baptism that would baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a softener of hearts. He waters the heart for repentance. And so, the message of John leads us to the import of the messiah who is to come. The messiah would bring absolute reconciliation between us and God. His mission would bring about lasting peace. In his days, peace shall reign forever (cf. The Resp. Psalm, Ps. 72:7). As we prepare for the way of the Lord and making his paths straight, we pray for a spirit of endurance to remain repented during this season and even afterwards. Amen. God bless you.