We belong to two families, a natural and supernatural family

Homily for Holy Family Year C 2015-2016

Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52

Introduction

In most African communities, the concept of family is very fluid.  For example:

·        Your father's brothers, are not called "uncles," but simply "fathers."

·        Your mother's sisters, are also not called "aunts," but are your mothers too.

·        And their children are not cousins, but are your brothers and sisters.

And so, one has other brothers and sisters, other fathers and mothers, who you have to treat exactly as you would, your real parents and siblings.  Now if you thought having one mother nagging you all the time was bad, imagine what it is like having seven mothers behind you all the time!

Jesus too seems to be in a similar situation of having, not just one father, Joseph, but another father, the heavenly Father.  Although he was the Son of God and so belonged to the supernatural family of the Trinity, Jesus also belonged to the human family of Joseph and Mary.

Scripture and Theology

Sometimes we forget that the Holy Family was a natural family of father, mother and child. Perhaps it is because some paintings and holy cards of the Holy Family depict them in a super-pious and unrealistic way.  But Joseph, Mary and Jesus were real human beings, living in a real family with all its joys and its difficulties.  That Jesus was sinless, that Mary did not have original sin and that Joseph is a saint, did not protect them from the struggles of family life.

That is why in the gospel, when Jesus remains behind at the Temple in Jerusalem, Mary scolds the twelve-year old saying: “Son, why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”  Is this not what you would say to your child, when he runs away from you at the Mall or at some park?  Just like any mother and father, Mary and Joseph were anxious and worried about their son.

Even the way Jesus responds to Mary should be familiar to any mother with a teenager.  “Why were you looking for me?" Jesus asks.  "Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  That doesn't sound like an apology, does it?  Jesus doesn't apologize for going off on his own without telling his parents, perhaps causing even more distress to his mother.  But unlike your typical teenager, Jesus has a good reason for his action; he was attending to the business of his Father, his other Father, his heavenly Father.

And yet his membership in the heavenly family did not absolve Jesus from his family obligations.  That is why we heard that eventually: "He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; . . . And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man."  In other words, Jesus as a son needed his family, to grow in his humanity and in his faith.

·        His mama had taught him how to walk, how to speak and how to say "please" and "thank you."

·        The teenage Jesus probably worked with his dad in the carpentry workshop and learned from him how to be a man.

·        Jesus had to learn how to read and especially how to read the Scriptures and to pray, so that when he left home, he knew the Jewish Bible well and he knew his Jewish faith well.

And so, Jesus takes seriously his obligations to both his families, the natural and the supernatural, listening to and obeying both his earthly and heavenly parents.  And when by virtue of our baptism Jesus invites us into his supernatural family, as his brothers and sisters, he asks us to be equally committed to both families.

Christian Life

That is why the Church is a strong promoter of the family.  We Christians must take our natural families very seriously, in whatever form they come.  Most of us are fortunate to belong to a family with a father and a mother, the unit in which God intended children to be raised, life to be lived.  Others, especially widows and orphans, the separated and divorced, the single and strangers, have to make do with a different kind of family.  Whatever family we have, like the Holy Family was for Jesus, our family is the school of learning the faith and living out our Christian life as the Catechism teaches us.  "Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous - even repeated - forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life” (CCC 1657).

As the saying goes, charity begins at home.  Fulfilling our family responsibilities is the first way to live and grow as Christians.  In the family, husbands and fathers fulfill their roles, wives and mothers play their part, and like Jesus, children advance "in wisdom and age and favor before God and man."

But although charity begins at home, it must not end there.  The heavenly family to which the Lord has invited us includes more than mom, dad and children and siblings; it is like the African family.  

On this Holy Family Sunday, Pope Francis has asked the Church to celebrate the Jubilee of mercy for Families.  He wants families to use this occasion to rediscover that their vocation and mission includes stepping out of our small family circles. to extend our understanding of family.  In his own words, he wants families "to go out, to cross the thresholds of our doors and to meet the whole of society, to meet all people, 'especially poor people in order to be able to give to them the strength of brotherhood and solidarity, in order to transform our society into a real family of peoples.'"

This Pope's request is actually quite reasonable.  If we call Jesus our brother, we must then call his other brothers and sisters, our brothers and sisters too; if we call God our Father, we must then call his other children our brothers and sisters.

Let me offer a few ways in which we can experience not only our family life but also the supernatural family of God.

1.    My presence among you is already shows that we belong to this supernatural family.  We don't share any blood kinship and yet at Mass several times, I call you "brothers and sisters."  And even outside Mass, some of you consider me your brother and some your son.  In my seven years here in New Orleans, I have never felt like an orphan.  On Christmas day I was invited to so many families for lunch, that I had to stagger them two hours apart.  My mom should not worry about me being fed and being kept on the straight path; for among you I have many other mothers to do that.

2.    I also know that many of you have taken in other vagrants like myself.  Sometimes you take cousins, nephews, nieces, parents, siblings and friends who are down on their luck and expand your family.  But you don't have to live with someone to make them a part of your wider family; just treating them as if they were your brother or sister in Christ is sufficient.

3.    One of the families with whom I had Christmas dinner have an adopted daughter.  What better way to be pro-life and at the same time extend your family than by giving a home and family to a child by adoption or foster-parenting, like Mary and Joseph opened their home to the child Jesus.

Conclusion

And so our families are called to live this year of mercy in two main ways.

·        Let us be more committed to the obligations of our natural families and bring reconciliation there if some healing is needed.

·        But let us also bring that mercy and love beyond the thresholds of our homes, to include God's wider family of the Church and of the world.

For when at last we get to heaven, membership in our natural family will cease to matter and we shall all belong to that wider family of God's Kingdom, where we shall all be brothers and sisters, for we shall all live with One Father.

Wrapping the Christmas message

Homily for the Nativity Year C 2015

Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; LK 2:1-14

Introduction

Good morning and welcome to this Christmas celebration.  Giving gifts is one of the typical ways people celebrate Christmas.  Even in Uganda when I was growing up, although our parents did not have much, it was at Christmas that they bought us new clothes and new school uniform; it was at Christmas that we shared food and drink with our neighbours, even our Muslim neighbours.

But I have noticed that here in America, people don't just give gifts; they make the effort to wrap the gift well.  Perhaps this is because they want to show their love, not just by what the gift contains, but also by how they present the gift.

That is why I would like us to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, by looking not just at the Christmas message, but also at how the gospels presents it.

Scripture and Theology

Luke's gospel, from which we have just read, tells the Christmas story as witnessed by the shepherds.

·        It is to the shepherds, that the angel announced the "good news of great joy that will be for all the people, [that] in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord."

·        It is to the shepherds, that the angel gave directions on how to find the Savior, "an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

·        It is to the shepherds, that the multitude of angels sung and praised God saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

But why the shepherds, why these poor men, some of whom were known to be thieves? Why not announce the Saviour's birth to the priests down at the Temple or the political leaders at City Hall or the traders on Main Street?

·        Can you imagine the shock these poor shepherds received, when not one angel, but a multitude of angels appeared to them?

·        Can you imagine these uneducated men trying to find this one infant in a crowded city, much like New Orleans during Mardi Gras time?

Luke's gospel tell us that the shepherds actually made it down to Bethlehem.  And just like the angels had described, they found "Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger"; he was born not at the teaching hospital but in a dirty cowshed.  But regardless of the poor conditions of his birth, the shepherds went about sharing this breaking news about the birth of the Saviour, news that they had heard and now had seen with their own eyes.

Doesn't this story of the shepherds remind you of the Easter story?  That when the Lord rose from the dead, he first appeared to simple women and to humble fishermen, people who were not considered important in society?  Perhaps the similarity is not by accident – perhaps the Lord is simply being consistent in the way he operates; choosing to work with the poor and lowly.

In fact the Catholic faith we profess every Sunday when we recite the Creed, hinges on these two great mysteries of Christmas and Easter: that the Son of God became man and that the Son of God redeemed man.  Only Christmas and Easter are celebrated not only with great solemnity, but also for a whole eight days, an Octave – it is like a week's worth of tailgating.  And yet, those who were chosen to be witnesses to these two great events of our salvation, were the lowly, shepherds for the Christmas event and fishermen for the Easter event.

And so, reading and reflecting on the story of the shepherds tells us what, for the Christian, for the Catholic, Christmas is really about:

·        That the Saviour and Lord of the world is born.

·        That his birth brings Good News of great joy to all people.

·        That all people upon whom God showers his favour, all the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Christian Life

And so, one might say that all our Christmas celebrations and symbols are the wrapping paper containing this simple Christmas message.

·        The Christmas bells and carols, the wreaths and mangers, the lights and stars, are our way of professing that the child born into this world is God's Son, our Saviour.

·        The mistletoe and poinsettia, the holly and trees, express our belief the in eternal life, that this new born baby came to bring about.

·        The Christmas gifts and cards, the meal and drink, even Santa Claus reflect our joy that the birth of this infant brings glad tidings to the poor.

And so the point of our Christmas celebration and festivity is really the simple message that the Saviour of the world is born, a message first delivered to humble shepherds, and yet a message of great importance for us and for the world.  Let me suggest how we could to live out the Christmas message in three ways: by conversion, by compassion and by consideration.

The Lord's birth invites us to conversion.  In calling the Jubilee year of mercy, Pope Francis is inviting us to approach the fountain of mercy that this new born infant came to bring for the world.  When the angels sung "peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests," they were singing about us, upon whom God has showered his bountiful mercy.  But for this favour to benefit us personally, we must experience conversion of heart and life, leaving behind whatever separates us from God, and turning to him, who alone can save us in Jesus.  Has the Christmas spirit inspired you to pick an activity of the Jubilee of Mercy, perhaps a pilgrimage, regular confession, going through the Holy Door?

Secondly, the Lord's birth invites us to compassion. As we tap into the Christmas treasury of mercy for ourselves, we must share the Christmas cheer with others, especially those at the bottom of society.  Think of the children who are attacked inside the womb and those like the infant Jesus attacked outside the womb!  Think of the immigrant and the homeless, who like the Holy Family, cannot find a place to lay their head.  Think of the poorest social and economic classes of our society, who like the shepherds and their smelly sheep, struggle to scrape together a living.  Is there one thing that the Christmas spirit inspires you and me to do, so that we can show compassion to others?

Thirdly, the Lord's birth invites us to be considerate of all people.  Our country faces a crisis as we experience terrorist attacks and racial tensions, and as we go through an election cycle to choose leaders who can guide and lead us.  The Christmas message should inspire in us a Christian response to this crisis; a response that is considerate and civil, reasonable and sensible.  If we are to live out the Christmas message of joy and peace for the world, our discourse and actions must be inspired by God's truth, by courtesy, by fairness, rather than by falsehood, hatred and prejudice.  Today at Christmas dinner, how will the Christmas spirit inspire what you and I say, especially when talking with family members whose views I don't agree with?

Conclusion

My friends, the Christmas message of the Lord's birth needs wrapping.  God wrapped it in the gospel story of the shepherds and the manger.  God invites us to wrap this message too, not just in our Christmas Mass, celebrations and festivities, but especially in the way we live the Christmas spirit in our lives, particularly through conversion, compassion and consideration for all people.

Your special calling from God

Homily for 4^th Sunday of Advent Year C 2015

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

Introduction

A friend of mine, who works at one of the large area hospitals, recently received a letter from the CEO of the hospital.  He was congratulating and thanking her for her service of 25 years.  But my friend was not entirely excited by this letter.

It was a form letter that, besides her name, said nothing personal about her.  In fact, the CEO did not seem to know for what job he was thanking her.  He said something like "you are one of the most important people who make a difference to our patients, whether you work in the clinical or non-clinical area."  And so, rather than rejoice that her employer appreciated her contribution, my friend realized that she was just one more cog in the wheel of this large organization.

Thankfully, when God calls a person for a mission, he is very specific and knows each person already from their mothers' wombs (cf. Jer. 1:5, Gal. 1:15-16).

Scripture and Theology

In today's readings we see how God calls people for his missions.

·        God calls Bethlehem-Ephratah, the smallest of the clans of the tribe of Judah, to be the clan from which the Messiah will be born.

·        God calls Elizabeth, a woman who today would already be drawing social security, to be the mother of the forerunner, John the Baptist.

·        God calls Mary, to be the mother of the Messiah himself, Jesus the Christ.

For today's homily, let us reflect on the special calling of Mary.

Did you notice that Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called Mary "blessed" two times in today's short gospel passage.

·        "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."

·        "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

With these words, Elizabeth not only congratulates Mary about her special role, but she is also very specific, unlike my friend's boss.

The first reason for which Elizabeth congratulates and calls Mary "blessed," is because of what Mary is carrying in her womb, Jesus the Son of God.  She recognizes that God has blessed Mary among all women by tapping her to be the vehicle that brings his Son into the world.

This reminds me of a custom back home in Uganda of calling mothers not by their own names or even the names of their husbands, but by name of what comes from their womb, their children.  And so, in everyday conversation, a mother would be referred to by a phrase that roughly translates as “mother of so-and-so.”  My mother, for example is rarely called by her name "Josephine," but is referred to by everybody as “Mama Deo,” my name.

This custom works quite well for the most part, since it honours the motherhood of these women, especially if their children are well-behaved.  But spare a thought for the mother whose child turns out bad.  Surely no woman would like to be referred to as the "mother of so-and-so," the school bully or the thief or drug-dealer.  In other words, children can bring honour or dishonour to their parents, they can be a blessing or a curse to them.

Thankfully for Mary she is in the blessed situation of having a son who brought her honour and with whose name she is proud to be associated till today.  That is why Elizabeth calls Mary "blessed," because the son Mary carries in her womb is blessed and makes Mary “the mother of my Lord.”

A few weeks ago we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, where we again acknowledged that Mary is Blessed among women, because God gave her a singular gift of being conceived without sin, so that she would be a worthy vehicle for her son.  In the gospel of that day, the Angel Gabriel also pointed out Mary's special status when he said: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you," the first part of our prayer, the Hail Mary.  In today's gospel, Elizabeth provides the remaining words of that prayer, when she says: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus."

But is this reason enough to honour Mary?  After all she did nothing to earn the blessing of being the mother of God; God simply chose her, without so much as an audition.  In fact, one might say that like the Ugandan mother, Mary seems to be riding the coattails of her son’s good name.  But that is not the case, as Elizabeth tells us the second time she calls Mary 'blessed."

She says: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  Yes, it is true that God chose Mary in a special way, but it is equally true that Mary believed what the Angel Gabriel told her and said “Yes.”  In other words Mary earned her own good name, by actively cooperating with the blessing she received from God.  She told the angel Gabriel: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”  She took the slightly modified words of Spiderman very seriously: "with great privilege comes great responsibility." Mary did not take her privilege for granted, but used it to bring God's Son into the world, an event we celebrate at Christmas.

Christian Life

You and I have also been specially called and specially graced by God.  In God's grand plan for the world, there is a specific role for each of us.

On a broad level, we are each called to live out God's plan in a particular state of life, some as married people, others as single people, some as priests, others as religious.

And then within these four broad callings, God graces each of us for a specific task.  What God wants you and that handsome man sitting next to you, is different from what God wants that other couple in the next pew to do.  Perhaps he has given you children, but has not the next couple.  Perhaps he has placed different people in the path of your life, so that you might share the Good News with them, but has placed another whole set of people in your neighbour's path.

Of course we can only respond well to our calling, if we know what it is.  Unlike Mary whose calling was very clear because an angel told her, for us it is primarily through prayer that God tells us what we must do.  But God also sends angels to us, not angels with wings and a shining light, but the people around us, like our parents and teachers, our priests and fellow parishioners.  Many young men who come to the Seminary often say that they did so, because someone tapped them on the shoulder and said: "Have you considered a call to the priesthood?"

Conclusion

This Last Sunday of Advent is always dedicated to Mary, to remind us that without her there would be no Christmas.  God placed the responsibility of this great event of our salvation, in the hands of a poor teenage girl; but she rose to the occasion and played her part.  And so we call her "blessed."

You and I are also called to be "blessed", as long we don't simply ride the coattails of the name of Christian, but like Mary we embrace our specific calling and especially its smallest tasks.

Christmas time is an especially wonderful opportunity to live out our various callings.  So in this last week of Advent preparation for Christmas, we must ask ourselves: "Have I played my part, have I made my small contribution to God's grand plan of salvation, or am I just a cog in taking up space in God's machine?"

What should we do: Seek and Share God's mercy

Homily for 3^rd Sunday of Advent Year C 2015

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

Introduction

Why do we remember Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg speech, the Inauguration speech of President Kennedy, and the “I have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King?  Perhaps these speeches are memorable because they moved people and led them to some action.

Scripture and Theology

There are two speeches in the New Testament that also lead people to action.

·        One is the speech of Peter on Pentecost, when filled with the Spirit, he described for the crowds, who Jesus was, what he said and did for their salvation.  The people were greatly moved and asked: "What are we to do, brothers?’’  We shall hear more about that speech at Easter.

·        The speech that concerns us today is that of John the Baptist, which concludes with today’s gospel reading.  After he has told the people to prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah by repenting and by being baptised, they too were moved to ask: "What should we do?"

To the different groups asking this question, John gives very practical answers:

·        What should the crowds in general to do?  He suggests charity and generosity: "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise."  In other words, if they want to show that they are truly sorry for their sins, that they have left their old lives behind, they will treat others, even strangers, as brothers and sisters, sharing the basic needs of food and clothing with them.  Is this not what we too do always, but especially at Christmas?

·        For the tax collectors he challenges them to be just and fair: "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."  Tax-collectors were known to be corrupt, taking bribes, collecting more than was stipulated and keeping the difference for themselves.  To show their conversion, they must stop this.

·        And to the soldiers John suggests kindness and truth: "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."  Soldiers could be tempted to use their military power wrongly, especially by extortion and cruelty.  They must stop doing these things immediately.

And so, to all three groups who ask: "What should we do?", John's answer is simple: show your inner conversion through practical actions.

Christian Life

Pope Francis (and indeed all popes) might be considered today's John the Baptist.  Pope Francis too has been teaching Catholics to put their faith into action.  Catholics, moved by his teaching have been asking him: "What should we do?" To this question he has given many practical answers.

But this year, Pope Francis has in a special way, answered the question of "what should we do?" by declaring a Jubilee Year of Mercy.  He has told us that during  this year of mercy which began on Tuesday: Seek and Share God's mercy.

Throughout this year, we shall reflect on various aspects of God's mercy.  But today I want to offer two thoughts: "What is God's mercy that we should seek" and "How can we share it?"

Mercy is treating someone better than they deserve.  And surely God treats us better than we deserve in two ways: by creating us and by forgiving us.

Think of a young man in high school, let's call him Michael.  He is unremarkable, not particularly athletic, not very smart in class either, and scores average or lower on all the kinds of things young ladies would look for in a potential date.  Then out of the blue, Rachel begins to show him some attention.  She is not only really beautiful, she’s also the head cheerleader and valedictorian of her class, to say nothing about all the good work she does at Church.  She is the kind of daughter every parent wants to have.  True to her kind nature, she asks our nondescript Michael to be her date for the Prom.  Now perhaps most of the guys here are probably thinking “no way this could never happen in real life.”

But this is exactly what God did when he created us.  He had no need of human beings, but still he created us and shared with us human beings more than we deserve – he gave us life, his life.  We probably don’t think of God creating us as a form of divine mercy; but do we realize that we didn’t have to exist?  Like Michael was out of Rachel's league, we too as human beings are out of God's league.  But in his mercy, he creates us and invites us be like him.

If the first form of God's mercy has to do with our lower nature, the second has to do with our sinful nature.  Let’s return to our high school friends Rachel and Michael.  They actually go to the Prom together.  And then even better, they eventually fall in love, begin dating and get married a few years later.  We would all agree that Michael has won the jackpot.  Unfortunately, after they have been married for a couple of years, he begins to take her for granted; he begins to forget how lucky he is.  And then he cheats on his wife.

Fortunately for Michael, after she does some tearful agonizing and serious praying, Rachel forgives him and takes him back.  Being the truly good woman that she is, she treats him better than he deserves.  If dating him in the first place was an act of mercy because he was out of her league, now forgiving him is an act of mercy because she does not punish him as he deserves.

In the same way God is not only merciful in creating us, he is merciful in forgiving us.  Yes, he punished the Jewish people sometimes; but he was quite lenient.  The punishment for sinning against God, who is all good, is eternal separation from God.  But that is not the punishment that God meted out to Adam and Eve, to Cain, to the children of Israel and subsequent generations.  In his mercy he not only forgave them, but he also sent them prophets, priests and kings, to help them get back on the right track.  Moreover, he sent his Son to be the final and lasting instrument of forgiveness and mercy.

That is why Pope Francis invites us to seek this mercy for ourselves.  Some of us are carrying heavy burdens; some of us are oppressed by the sins of our past lives.  We must go to the fountain of God's mercy, especially the sacrament of confession and the other sacraments as well.  During this year of mercy, let us make use of all the tools that God gives us through the Church, to drink from his bottomless spring of mercy.

Having sought and received God's mercy, there is something else that we should do: “Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36), Jesus says.  We must share God's mercy.  It would be unfortunate for Michael, if after he had been forgiven so much by Rachel, he himself does not forgive others who sin against him: his children, his co-workers, even his relatives.

Similarly, during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, as we ourselves take a bite out of God's mercy, we must share it with others.

·        Are there people who have hurt us that we must forgive as Jesus teaches, not seven times, but seventy-seven times?

·        Are there people we have hurt, so that we too must seek their mercy and repair the damage we have caused?

·        Do we know the several corporal works of mercy and the seven spiritual works of mercy and do we carry them out?

Conclusion

"What should we do?"  On this Gaudete Sunday, we receive Good News: "Seek and share God's mercy."  This is our answer.  This is our clarion call to action.  This is our way to heaven, not just in Advent, but throughout our lives."

Preparing the Way with Pope Francis

Homily for 2^nd Sunday of Advent Year C 2015

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

Introduction

This year I have had the privilege of having Pope Francis visit both the USA my adopted home, and Uganda my original home.  Watching the Ugandan visit on TV last week, I noticed how many places had been spruced up.  Roads that I know to be unpaved, were paved; churches that I know to be in disrepair were renovated; even the airport received a touch of paint.  All these preparations were made, because of the high esteem in which the Ugandan people hold their guests, especially the Pope.

Scripture and Theology

No wonder then that John the Baptist uses the same image of preparing roads, to teach about the coming of the Messiah.  Quoting from the Prophet Isaiah, John speaks of himself as the voice crying out in the desert, telling people to prepare the way for the Lord, to make straight his paths, to fill in every valley and level every mountain.

They are to do this preparation by repenting of their sins and coming to him for a baptism of repentance; this baptism would be the visible sign of the change happening in their hearts.  And indeed many people heard the message of John, left behind their evil ways and came to be baptized.  So when Jesus the Messiah finally showed up they were ready to become his disciples.  In fact, some of the close disciples of Jesus like Andrew, were first disciples of John the Baptist.

We read this passage about John the Baptist during Advent, because its message is relevant for our Advent celebration.  While John's message prepared the people for the First Coming of Jesus, this same message should prepare us for the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time.  We too must prepare the way for the Lord, make straight his paths, fill in the valleys and level the mountains in our lives.

The people in Africa who were making preparations for the visit of Pope Francis perhaps did not realize that he was coming to them, to help them make preparations for the arrival of an even greater guest, Jesus Christ Our Lord.  I would like to suggest that like John the Baptist, the Pope, wherever he goes, teaches people to prepare the way for the Lord.  I would like to share the three messages that Pope Francis preached in each of the three African countries that he visited, messages that can also help us prepare us for the Coming of the Lord.

The first stop for Pope Francis was Kenya, which happens to be where my mother was born.  Perhaps you know about Kenya because of the great long-distance runners that come from there; I am not one of them.  The Pope described Kenya as a country blessed with great human and natural resources. And to them, his message was: “Be strong in the faith, do not be afraid.”

This was a welcome message for a country that has faced terrorists attacks over and over again: the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi in 1998, the attacks at a shopping Centre two years ago, and the attack at a University earlier this year in which nearly 150 students were killed.  But he told the Kenyans that being strong in the faith also meant protecting the environment and carrying out economic development that is fair, inclusive and sustainable, and for the young people, growing in peace and fraternity.

The next stop for the Pope was Uganda, my home country.  Most Americans of a certain age know about Uganda because of the notorious dictator Idi Amin.  But the Pope was there to focus on another group of famous Ugandans, the twenty-two martyrs who gave up their lives for the faith 130 years ago.  That is why his message for Ugandans was: “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

As he challenged Ugandans to be witnesses like the martyrs, he also thanked them for their witness: the witness of catechists who teach the faith; the witness of charity seen in the many communities that serve the poorest, the disabled, to the sick; the witness of the young who, despite their difficulties, guard the gift of hope and seek to live according to the Gospel and not according to the world; the witnesses of priests and the religious who give themselves completely to God and his people; and of course the witness of the missionaries who brought the faith in the first place.  This witness had become the leaven for the entire society, as seen in Uganda's successful fight against AIDS and Uganda's welcoming of refugees from neighbouring countries over the last seventy years.

The last stop of the Pope's African voyage was the Central African Republic, a country which gets its name from its location in the heart of the continent.  It is also a country experiencing internal conflicts and great suffering; where Catholic priests have had to protect Muslim refugees in the Church compounds as their parishioners tried to storm the gates.  That is why his message for them was: “Let us go over to the other shore” (Lk 8:22), words that Jesus used in the gospel to invite the disciples to cross the lake with him.

With these words Pope Francis invited the people to leave behind war, divisions, misery, and cross over to the side of peace, reconciliation, development, a journey that starts in people's consciences, attitudes and intentions.  And the Pope himself walked the talk, by visiting an Evangelical community, a mosque and a refugee camp for Muslim refugees.  It is in this war-torn country that, albeit a week early, the Pope opened the first Holy Door of the Jubilee of Mercy, as a sign of faith and hope for that country, for Africa and for the world.

Christian Life

Like John the Baptist, Pope Francis thus became for the people of these three countries, a voice crying out in the desert:

·        "Be strong in the faith, do not be afraid” – a message of faith and hope

·        “You will be my witnesses” – a message of faith and charity

·        “Let us go over to the other shore” – a message of conversion.

Just as they had prepared the roads for his visit, with these messages the Pope prepared the roads of their hearts for the Lord Jesus Christ, who comes to us at Christmas but more importantly will come again at the end of time.

But these messages are not just for the Kenyans, Ugandans and the Central Africans.  These messages are relevant to us too, as we go through Advent.

·        As we prepare for the Second Coming, we too need to be strong in the faith, especially in view of terrorist attacks, both domestic and foreign, against this country and the world at large.

·        As we prepare for the Second Coming, we too need to be witnesses of the Lord, especially to our families and co-workers and indeed to the society at large.

·        As we prepare for the Second Coming, we too need to go over to the other shore – the shore of faith rather than doubt, hope rather than despair, love rather than hate.

Conclusion

As we continue into the second week of Advent, each of us should ask ourselves: "What concrete thing am I doing to prepare not just Christmas but also for the Second Coming?"  There is going to confession, reading the Bible and the Catechism, extending the joy of Christmas to those who might not have any.

May the things we do, prepare the way for the Lord and make straight his paths, so as we fill in every valley and level every mountain of our lives, he can come into our lives and the lives of all.