REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT 6TH DECEMBER 2023

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT 6TH DECEMBER 2023

Isaiah 25:6-10a; Ps.23; Matt.15:29-37

The Salvation of God is Holistic

The first reading of today forms part of the Apocalypse of Isaiah (24:1-27:13). This was a period following the return of the people from Exile. During their exilic experience, they prayed for freedom and hoped that when they are free, they will have no more troubles. Unfortunately, after returning from exile, they still faced molestation from non-Jewish settlers around them. The trouble-free life they had anticipated was not in sight at all. At this, they cried to God for a holistic restoration – one that would shake the whole world order.

In the first reading of today, Isaiah assured the people that the expected Messiah will bring about the holistic restoration they hope for. Holistic restoration here means to provide all that is needed for a happy life both spiritual and material. Consequently, Isaiah assured the people the Messiah will both feed them with the best food and drink, and destroy death.

In the gospel reading, the ability of Jesus to attend to us holistically was perfectly illustrated. First, Jesus attended to all irrespective of the ailments they suffered from. There was no one he could not heal. This made the people to wonder. Ordinarily, gods and powerful magicians have areas of specialization. No single god or magician is able to heal all. Holistic restoration which includes salvation is something only God can do.

Now, it was obvious that when the sick came to Jesus, they desired healing. This they got. However, Jesus also attended to that which they never asked for: hunger. They couldn’t have asked for food, since they were already bewildered with the healing power of Jesus. Yet, Jesus is not ruled by the expectation of men. He made this clear when he said to the disciples: “I have compassion on the crowd”.

Beloved, Jesus is motivated by compassion. To be compassionate means to see a need and do something positive and concrete about it. If Jesus will we compassionate to us, then we have to present ourselves to him. The moment we come before him, he does not attend to us base on what we have requested of him but base on what he sees to be lacking in us. Thus, advent calls us to return to the Lord who knows our needs more than we do, and is able and willing to restore us holistically.