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.