A Message of Hope for Our Churches - Homily 2º Sun. of Advent

Advent is a time of hope. Not only hope that Jesus will come to save, but also hope that He will save us, that we will benefit from salvation. If Jesus comes to save, but the fruits of His salvation are not shown in us, what’s good about His coming? Those who are not saved cannot rejoice. Those who cannot be saved, or those who think that they cannot be saved, those people have no hope.

There is a crisis of hope in many churches, in Christians and also among priests. We have tried so many things to make our churches grow and nothing seems to work. People have tried so many things to attract the youth to our churches, and everything seems to have failed. We have tried so many times to change, to do better, and here we are… What else can we do? What can we hope for? Can Jesus save us? What can we expect from His coming among us?

1. Sometimes we think that there is nothing we can do because we have no strength left, or no talent, or no experience. “If anyone can do something, that guy is not me,” we say. However, in God’s Church “the calf and the lion and the fatling [shall lie down] together, and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:1-10). You are not strong like a lion? The calf is not strong either, but it also has a place by the lion. You are not as experienced, and you think that for that reason there is little you can do? The little child leads the lion and the calf. Jesus is the fatling for the sacrifice, the lion of Juda, the little child of Mary… All of us, in one way or another, are part of Jesus’ plan and can represent Jesus to our brothers and sisters. But there is one condition for us to be part of the solution: the reason this unity and peace among so many differences is possible in God’s kingdom, is that “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Ibid.)

2. How can we receive God’s salvation, how can we receive this “knowledge of the Lord” allowing us to have hope? I think the key is a healthy focus on ourselves, as per today’s readings. We need a renewed openness to God’s word, to his message for us. And consequently, we need to embrace a spirit of conversion.

- a) “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:4-9). The reason we have no hope is because we think we do not have the strength. We are discouraged because we think that change is impossible. This way of thinking does not come from faith in the Scriptures. “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The Scriptures have a message of steadfastness: they warn us to be strong, they teach us how to become strong, they tell us that God can give us strength so that we may be steadfast. But are we open to listen? Do we believe that God can strengthen us? Is He not strong enough? Has He never shown His power in our lives? The Scriptures have a message of encouragement: it is possible! Jesus changed human history, the Apostles changed the lives of thousands of peoples, and God wants to continue their mission through us. We might be dead but God is not. God can give life to our dry bones, God can call us out of our tombs: the tombs of indifference, the tombs of despair, the tombs of our sins and weaknesses. But do we listen to the Scriptures? It is easy to blame the modern culture, the youth, and everybody else for not listening to God’s message, and so we sometimes justify our hopelessness. If we want change, we need to focus on ourselves first. If you listen to God’s word and let it work in yourself, nobody will stop you. Because, once you have experienced the steadfastness and encouragement of the Scriptures, your witness will become convincing: others may have hope to change because you yourself have changed.

-  b) This is the message of John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” “Bear fruit worthy of repentance… the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:1-12). It may not sound encouraging, but it is actually very Good News: we are commanded to bear fruit worthy of repentance, because we can. “But how can we change, if we do not have the strength?” You can change and repent because “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Ibid.) God comes with graces of repentance and virtue: this is why He commands us to repent and bear fruit. God would never command something impossible to His children, and when He does, it is because He has made it possible.

We have tried everything… but have we tried conversion? Have we tried a greater openness to God’s message for us? Nothing will work if we do not try this first. But if we do, everything will work. Let us listen, let us repent. God was born poor, but He did not come empty-handed. With His grace, you may become the lion, or the calf, or the fatling, or the little child that God needs in His Church. God can renew our Church but does not want to do it without you. God can renew you but cannot do it without your consent. Let us listen, let us repent. The Angel came from Heaven to ask for Mary’s consent. Today, God comes to your heart asking for your consent.