4th Sunday of Advent, Year C, 22.12.2024

  Micah 5:1-4 / Hebrews 10:5-10 / Luke 1:39-44

Some of us may remember this famous statement and its historical background. 

The statement is this: That's one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind. 

That statement was made by the American astronaut Neil Armstrong on the 20th July, 1969. He made this statement as he descended from the ladder of the lunar capsule and stepped on the surface of the Moon. 

And with that, he became the first man to step on the moon. 

But man didn't stop with just stepping on the moon. The quest for exploration of outer space continues with further ventures to other planets. 

But other than the moon, man has not stepped on other planets, well, not yet. 

So, it can be said that man has leapt to the moon, and he may be eyeing other planets to leap at. 

Although man has leapt far into outer space, how far has he gone into inner space? 

Much money and resources are spent exploring other planets, and yet planet Earth was left with an ecological problem. 

Man has leapt are into outer space, but has neglected about his inner space. 

In the gospel, we hear of another kind of leap. It was a leap of joy, a leap of life, a leap of love. 

Mary greeting Elizabeth seems ordinary, but it revealed a deep mystery. 

The Word of God has taken flesh in the womb of Mary, and through her greeting, the Good News of salvation was proclaimed. 

And baby in Elizabeth's womb left for joy at the sound of the Good News. 

It was a leap not into outer space, but a leap into the mystery of salvation, a leap into the love of God. 

As we listen to the gospel passage, our hearts also want to leap for joy. 

But if our hearts are not responding to this joyful news, could it be that our hearts are heavy and burdened. 

We may have spent our time, resources and energy on the unnecessary, on the so-called outer space, and neglected what is necessary, we have neglected our inner space. 

We need to listen to the Good News, so that our hearts can also leap with joy into the love of God. 

A story goes that a man went trekking into the woods, and he was fascinated by the natural beauty, and he lost track of time. 

When he realized it was getting dark, he tried to hurry back but he got lost, but he still tried to find his way back even though it was dark. 

He went on and on and then suddenly he fell off a cliff. As he was falling down, he somehow managed to catch hold of a branch. 

He caught his breath and was relieved, but he couldn't see where he was as it was pitch dark. 

So, he began to pray: Oh God, save me, save me. 

To his surprise, he heard a voice: You want me to save you? 

The man replied. Yes Lord yes, please save me. 

The Voice then said: Okay, then do what I tell you, let go of the branch. 

The man was stunned and also shocked. He couldn’t believe what he heard. So, he closed his eyes and desperately held on to the branch with all his might. 

After a long while, he heard birds chirping and he knew that finally morning has arrived. 

With much anxiety, he slowly opened his eyes to see what his situation was. To his surprise, when he opened his eyes to see where he was, his feet was only six inches from the ground. 

If only he had listened to the voice of God and let go of the branch, he wouldn't have suffered all night. 

So, it comes back to this simple spiritual saying: Let go and let God. 

When we let go of our worries, fears and anxieties, we will listen to the voice of God and let God take control of our lives. 

When we let God take control, then we will be able to listen to the Good News of salvation, and our hearts will leap for joy.

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C, 15.12.2024

 Zephaniah 3:14-18 / Philippians 4:4-7 / Luke 3:10-18

Human beings and machines have some similarities. 

A machine is designed to perform a specific task. 

For example, a car is designed to move after a sequence of operations. The task is specific and there are not much variations to what a car is supposed to do. 

Human beings, as much as they can be flexible and adaptable, also like to be told specifically what to do. 

And human beings can be rather robotic, and they can at times even act like robots. 

But a better way of putting it is that human beings are creatures of habit, and they like to be ritualistic. 

They want to know what to do and keep doing it, so that they don't have to think too much about how to do it. 

And when they get used to doing something over and over again, then it is not likely that they will like to change it. 

In the gospel, the people who came to John the Baptist asked him what must they do for repentance. 

So, to specific groups of people John the Baptist gave them specific tasks to perform. 

Generally, he told them to be generous and to share with those in need. 

Then, to the tax collectors, he told them to be honest and not to collect more than required. To the soldiers, he told them not to intimidate and not to extort. 

John the Baptist was specific and straightforward in his teaching and in his instructions to the people and to the specific groups. 

So the people thought that it was all that was required. 

Then, John the Baptist gave them something more to think about and what to be prepared for. 

He said that he baptized with water for the repentance of sin. 

But there is one who is coming after him, and who is more powerful than he is. 

And that one who is to come, will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

What immediately comes to mind is a stark contrast. 

John the Baptist talks about and uses water for his ministry. 

But Jesus, the one who is to come, will have the power of the Holy Spirit and there will be fire. 

What a contrast, and what a change. 

But the contrast also prepares for the change, and it will be a wonderful and beautiful change. 

On this third week of Advent, the rose coloured candle is lighted and rose coloured vestments are worn. 

The rose coloured candle stands as a contrast among the three purple coloured candles. 

It is a candle to symbolize the theme of rejoicing. 

It also reminds us that when Jesus came He brought about a change. 

He was a light in the darkness, and his birth brought about rejoicing because the promise of salvation was fulfilled. 

On this third Sunday of Advent, the message for us is that Jesus will bring about a change, and it is a change that we will rejoice over. 

So, when there are changes in our lives, in our family and in our workplace, let us ask Jesus to help us see the change with rejoicing and with His blessings.

For this parish community, for Fr. Andre and for myself, all of us had undergone a change, and we want to believe that the change comes with blessings and rejoicing.

Let us remember the rose coloured candle of the Advent wreath.

May the light of that candle give us the Spirit of rejoicing. 

And let us pray that every change will come with the blessings of God, and that every change will be wonderful and beautiful.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C, 08.12.2024

 Baruch 5:1-9 / Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 / Luke 3:1-6 

The ways of the world are such that what is done is to be done on a big scale. 

It can be said that size does matter, so the bigger the better. 

The objective is to gain attention and admiration, so as to be more popular and famous than the rest. 

So, when it comes to the seasonal festive decorations, then the brighter and fancier, the better. 

And of course, when it comes to the Christmas trees, then the taller the better. 

But it is not just about being bigger, or brighter, or taller. 

The world also favours those with big names and high status, and from famous places. 

Needless to say, that behind those big names with high status and from famous places, there are influence, power and wealth. 

These are the ways of the world, and we are constantly being exposed to such ways. 

Inevitably, that also became a way of life, to be bigger, higher, better and with power. 

In the gospel, many big and powerful names were mentioned, and they also rule over famous places. 

Among those names are some that we have heard before, like, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Annas and Caiaphas. 

And we have heard about those places that they rule over, Judaea, Galilee and those other places. 

At that time, if someone were to name-drop and say that they are friend of Tiberius Caesar, or Pontius Pilate or Herod, they will be shown favour. 

Or, if someone were to say that the high priest Annas or Caiaphas is their friend, they will also get religious favours. 

What happened then, in that political and religious world, has not changed much. It is also happening in the present political and religious scenes, only that the names and places have changed. 

But there is one thing that did not change, and that is the ways of God. The ways of God are not the ways of the world. 

In the gospel, the Word of God did not go to those high and mighty and famous names or places. 

Instead, the Word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, and he was out there in the wilderness. 

And the message that John received was plain and simple, and that is, the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. 

It was a no-frills and no-thrills message, just repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

As we enter into the second week of Advent, the world has already entered into the festive celebrations. 

It looks and sounds as if Christmas is already here, and we are also moving with the flow. 

Being in this tension between Advent and the festive celebrations, a well-known figure emerges. 

We know who Santa Claus is. His image has appeared during this time in decorations and advertisements. 

Santa Claus is a big name in this festive season, so much so that his origins is often forgotten. 

Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas, lived during the 4th century. He is venerated in the Church because he helped the poor in their misery and poverty with gifts of money.

So, that is why Santa Claus, or St Nicholas, became a symbol of giving during this season. 

He also reminds us that God gave us His only Son to save us and to forgive our sins. 

Just as the Word of God came to John the Baptist in the wilderness, the Word of God comes to us through Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas. 

St Nicholas reminds us of the virtue of giving and especially to help the poor. 

The Word of God reminds us that the best gift is the gift of forgiveness. 

Let us turn to God for forgiveness so that we can forgive others. 

That is how we prepare the way for the Lord, so that we, the Church, and the world, will see the salvation of God.