SATURDAY DECEMBER 9, 2023
SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B
Isaiah 30:19-21.23-26
Matthew 9:35-10:1.5.6-8
EXTENDING THE MISSION OF CHRIST
The gracious love of God abounds and lifts man from the dungeon of adversities into a situation of peace, life and happiness. That is the mission of Christ. As prophesied by Isaiah in the first reading of today, we are reminded in this season of Advent of these promises that God has not abandoned his people but that the gracious love of his Son Jesus Christ abounds and will come quickly to lift us from our despicable situations into happy and fulfilling life and salvation.
Isaiah therefore extols the helping and consoling coming of the Saviour and wishes that man for whose case the savior is coming must be aware and prepared to receive him. For Isaiah, the gracious love of God will be extended to all irrespective of where anyone is.
This mission of the Lord is to teach, for he will say to you, “This is the way, walk on it.” Then the Lord will be present in our situations to console and uplift. He will also cause the rain to fall and this will give the earth moisture for the plants to blossom. The fields will produce habitations for the good of humanity. Then the animals will be plentiful and food and drink will be in abundance. The earth will be conducive to human beings and light and happiness will flourish with good health and peace will be in plenty.
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came and started his ministry. In the gospel of today, Matthew the evangelist records and reminds us today that Jesus was very compassionate and felt the same emotion for the people whom he saw as dejected and harassed by the world. He then set out to teach, to preach and to heal them.
Jesus recognizes our despicable conditions and takes adequate care of our situations to remedy our situation. He comes in compassion and love to forgive, to heal, to lead and guide us to better life situations and conditions.
Jesus does not just act alone, but prays for disciples to join him in this mission of saving humanity. He prays, raises and sends disciples and apostles to help in this task of making better the condition of the world.
He gives us the mandate to be his representatives on earth as his disciples to make better the lots of man. So in whatever situation you are either as dejected, harassed or as apostles or disciples, we have been committed the same spirit of Christ as his co worker and worthy ambassadors to teach, preach and heal the hurts and souls of men in our time.
Let us then in this season of advent recall and help to key into this mission of Christ in our individual ways and styles with the intention of bringing and being compassionate to one another, healing the hurts of others, and teaching and preaching to others to foster and extend the compassionate love of God in our world.
Heavenly Father, you are loving and compassionate to us. You desire that we live happy fulfilling and healthy lives on earth. Help us to understand and accept your promises for us and to show love and compassion, to consciously exercise the ministry of uplifting others and helping to bring succor into other peoples lives, thereby extending your compassion to others through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
