HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF ADVENT

Homily for Wednesday of the 4th week of Advent

Song of songs 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45

In the liturgy of the word today, the first reading is taken from the song of songs. The Song of Songs is also called the" Song of Solomon", or "the Canticle of Canticles". It is predominantly love poetry or a poem in praise of love. 

It gives us the picture of Marriage as a good representation of the symbol of love. The bride says: "The voice of my beloved!... My beloved speaks to me: Arise, my love, my fair one...let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely" (Song 2:8-14).

Beloved in Christ, the love between husband and wife is the symbol of love between God and the people of God. To Israel, God says: "Your Maker is your husband, the Lord God of host is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer...For Lord had called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in Spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God" (Isaiah 54:5-6). In the St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes: "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph 5:25). 

Friends in Christ, God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (JN 3:16). Love is stronger than death. Christ Jesus died for us on the cross of Calvary for the redemption of humanity. His commandment is the commandment of Love. " I give you a new commwndment, Love one another as I have loved you" (JN 15:12). There is no commandment greater than these (Mk 12:31)

Child of God, are you a person of love? What kind of relationship do you manifest to your brothers and sisters: Is it hostility, arrogance, pride, resentment or care, love and compassion?

The Gospel reading of today speaks to us of the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth in the home of Zachariah, in the hill country of Judah (LK 1:39-40). In the narrative of the annunciation, having been raise to the high dignity of the Mother of God, she did not allow that to dissuade her from visiting her cousin Elizabeth. 

We are told 'she ran in haste', to serve the family of Elizabeth. As a vessel of the Holy Spirit and like a Mosnstrance carrying Christ Jesus, she communicated the Holy Spirit to ottehrs. We are called to like manner communicate Jesus to the world. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greetings, the child in her womb leapt for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit " (LK 1:44). 

Greeting though simple it may appear can drive away lonliness and depression. Greeting followed by good word and action can dispel the darkness of discouragement and produce magnificent outcomes. 

Friends in Christ let us look up to Mary who demonstrated her faith in God and became Jesus' disciple through her selfless service. She trusted in God and became the main collaborator of that admirable divine initiative which reopened our history to hope. We too must exact an attitude of faith in God which looks beyond the limits of purely human events into the realm of impossibilities becoming possibilities. Lets us in all we do be  bearers and instruments of the  divine plan through the Holy Spirit. 

Have a wonderful day

Fr Remi Osj