God's Love is More Powerful than Sin

1st Sunday of Lent: Readings - Genesis 2:7–9; 3:1–7; Psalm 51:3–6; 12–14, 17; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11

Listen to my Audio Homily

 

(The Temptation in the Wilderness, by Briton Riviere, ca. 1920.)

I would like to reflect over three aspects that are very prominent in all the three readings and the Psalm  51 that we heard today.

First one is sin, the second, the consequences of sin, and thirdly, the application of these readings to our life.

Sin is a three letter word which creates havoc not only today but even from the beginning of human history. It is a word that we hardly speak in public, in our work places, homes, businesses, factories or offices, or in our farms. However, every one is confronted with this word "Sin", individually or collectively. That is why our conscience often pricks. 

The first Letter of John 1: 8 says “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” So at the risk of distressing your digestion, let me begin this liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent by speaking on Sin.  For unless we speak of sin, we shall not speak sensibly of Easter, of resurrection, of Jesus Christ and even of ourselves. 

I would like to see here Sin for what it is, for what it does. By doing so you may opt for sin’s opposite: opt for love, for life, and for Christ. 

I should ask three set of questions here at this stage: What is this three letter word is all about? What does it have to do with the Christ of Lent’? What should it say to today’s Christian, in Lent and beyond?

I

To answer the first question, what is sin all about?  We go back to the first book of the Scriptures, the Genesis; first man, first woman and first sin. Sin is not a recent invention, sin was not invented in Rome or it is carved out in my psyche because of the guilt ridden the teacher of the catechism. 

Somewhere in the distant past, a man and a woman shaped in God’s image and likeness, (Gen 1:26-27; 5:1–3) the most beautiful and wondrous work of God on earth, turned their backs on their creator. Crowned with glory, he was given dominion over the world and the protection of His angels (Psalms 8:6–8; 91:11–13). He was made to worship God—to live not by bread alone but in obedience to every word that comes from the mouth of the Father. Gen 3:17 describes it how they have to behave a distant yet a clear voice, “You shall not eat of it”

It’s not important whether it was a red apple or some sort of artistic symbol ultimately matter. What matters most how God’s people, under God’s guidance came to understand sin. Sin was rebellion. It was a revolt, overthrowing. From one individual’s sin to a nations sin. 

Look at David, adulterous murderer finally realises he not only profaned the rights of the husband, of Uriah: “I have sinned against the Lord” writes 2 Sam 12:13. For Israelites to sin meant the rupture of a covenant. Both prophets Hosea and Jeremiah speak about it. Hosea says:

"Rejoice not O Israel,… 

for you have played the harlot, 

forsaking your God. 

You have loved a harlot’s hire 

[the pay of the sacred prostitute..] (Hos 9:1). 

Listen to Prophet Jeremia (3:1-2):

"You [Judah] have played the harlot with many lovers,

and would you return to me?...

By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers

like an Arab in the wilderness.

You have polluted the land

with your vile harlotry."

Sin ruptures a relationship, intimacy with the God who fashioned you out of nothing- fashioned you out of love alone.

The Gospel’s are no different. In John sin is separation - separation from God. It means you are no longer a son or daughter of the Father; you are a salve-enslaved to satan. According to St Luke, it's like a prodigal son, beak the bond that bond between a father and son, father and a daughter. “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son” Lk 15:21

Sin takes place when we stop loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.

II

What has this Lent has to do with Christ and Lent?

For this we go back to today’s reading from St. Paul written to the Romans. Paul is profoundly aware of Sin. "Sin came through one man’s rebellion", he says; i.e, Adam’s act of disobedience. It is an evil force, rebellious force, a bad force, It’s a power hostile to God, a power that alienates us from God. Its works are hostile to God. Its works are sinful deeds. . . Paul says, “I do not  do the good  I want, but the evil I do not want” Rom 7:19.

paul further says "as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous... Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more...through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 5:19-21.

John 3:16 writes: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. 

In Lent we relive a love that has no rival, the love that is more powerful than sin. More powerful than the first sin or the countless sins that deface God’s image each day on earth. 

You see only the God whom sin defies could possibly destroy the death that stems from sin. St Paul is amazed at God’s power of love. Therefore, instead of an angel God sent his only son….finally God’s son pinned to crossed beams, God’s own son would bleed out his life and die like a criminal. Such is the love we relive in Lent. God showed "His love for us even while we were sinners and Christ died for us". (Rom 5:7-8).

III

So thirdly, I should ask: What should all this say to today’s Christian in Lent and beyond? Though Jesus has destroyed the tyranny of sin, he has not destroyed our ability to sin. Even though sin does not enslave us yet we are still tempted to sin. We are still free to sin. Still, we sin after the pattern of Adam’s transgression. Like Adam, we let sin in the door (Genesis 4:7) when we entertain doubts about God’s promises, when we forget to call on Him in our hours of temptation. But the grace won for us by Christ’s obedience means that sin is no longer our master.

This is where today’s Gospel reading comes in. Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  (Mt 4:1) Jesus the new Israel is tempted, tempted when he is weak after 40 days of fasting and prayer. He is tempted to betray his mission. He is tempted when he is spiritually abundant. All these three temptation are temptations to power. You are hungry?…hungry, chase the stones, people want to pay attention to then soar like a bird from the roof top of the temple, you want to rule over the world then worship me. Thus you will get what you deserve. Adam, however, put the Lord his God to the test. He gave in to the serpent’s temptation, trying to seize for himself all that God had already promised him. But in His hour of temptation, Jesus prevailed where Adam failed—and drove the devil away.

Fascinatingly, Jesus says something different. Look for me among the lowly, the powerless, the crucified. The powers of this world means worshiping the false gods. 

There is often a temptation for Christians that haunts us that we are superior and powerful. We have shown in our Christian history through inquisition, crusades, wars on religions and ghettos, etc. that we are better than others. 

So, during these 40 days of Lent and beyond those 40 days, let our focus be not on sin, and the fears that sin brings but rather that on love, love that is stronger than sin.

As 1 John 4:18 says, “love that casts out fear.” Love that carried Jesus to the Cross. A love that crosses all sorts of boundaries that we try to put up. A love that over comes in times of our distress, in times of physical suffering, when we get bad reports of our health, when the stress of marriage and conjugal life becomes heavier like a cross, when our studies make no progress, when we do not get the jobs that we like to own, when our businesses don’t prosper or salaries don’t get increased, when our fields do not produce enough, then we need to look at Jesus on the Cross.  

Let that love of Christ be infront of us. Even Jesus could not attain whatever he wanted to achieve in his life time. Only such a Lent my dear friends leads to Easter, the crucifixion that end in Resurrection, the dying that is Christian living. In Christ we are strong. Because God's love is more powerful than sin. As we begin this season of repentance, we can be confident in His compassion, that He will create in us a new heart (Romans 5:5; Hebrews 8:10). As we do in today’s Psalm, we can sing joyfully of our salvation, renewed in His presence. AMEN.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
 01 March 2020

God will Shine on You and Make You Bright

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: - Readings: Isaiah 58:7–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16

Listen to my Audio Homily

The readings of today make us to reflect over who we are in this world. They also remind us that our faith can never be a private affair, something we can hide as if under a basket.

Taking the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we see that God has a special place for each one of us.  We are never alone. In general, the running theme in today's reading clarifies our identity and vocation as Christians. We are someone before the Lord when we feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked and heal the sick. Because God is merciful, generous, and just. His arms are open, he gives without counting. God does not know our mathematics, our measures. He is unlimited in love. Hence, He invites us to be so.

The power of God is beyond telling, look at Paul, a person alien to our faith but turned completely upside down with his change of life’s direction. A man given himself completely to the ideology of his religion, opens up to the Spirit of the Lord. Once his life is offered to Jesus there is no looking back. He becomes the founder of many Christian communities. This Paul brought faith to more people than anyone else and helped to shape what we now call Christianity. People listen to him, non-Jews listen to him. He feels humbled by the power of God and how it is working in the lives of people and in his own life. Paul feels deep within that it is not his talent, intelligence that led the people to form communities in Christ but the power of the crucified Christ. He recounts his initial fear when he visited Corinth to proclaim Christ; he came with "fear and trembling". But with the power of God, he could bring so much fruit to the Corinthian community. Therefore, before the power of God human wisdom has no standing.

Paul doesn’t try to draw people by strength, confidence or even certainty. But instead shows who he really is to them – and so who Christ really is. To be Christian is to choose a God who became human, a God who chose to be vulnerable – a God who draws us to each other through our vulnerability. We are called to find ourselves- to be whole- to be as vulnerable as we are- and, in this vulnerability, this humanity, to find God. We could ask ourselves how we take our own vulnerability, limitedness before the pressures of this world. Often we are surrounded by a pressure to be strong and independent...as if to be weak is to be broken. How do you experience this pressure? Do you feel comfortable with it... or is it a strain?

Living in God is living in vulnerability. St Paul recognises that, in speaking to the Corinthians, he was weak and fearful yet he continues this great task of demonstrating power in faith. Think of those times and ways in which you have felt weak and fearful...perhaps times when you have been under pressure to perform – how did this feel? How did you deal with this? Did the pressure overcome you or did you overcome it?

To be Christian is to choose a God who chose to be vulnerable. God is almighty yet he chooses to be with us in our weakness...how does it feel to choose a vulnerable God? Ours is a relationship of vulnerability. As people who choose this God of vulnerability we, like St. Paul, are drawn to follow Him in becoming fully human...becoming open, vulnerable and real. Pope John XXIII said that “Tenderness is strength at its fullest”.

In today's Gospel Jesus puts so beautifully how we should be: ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’ he says. Salt and light are metaphors about the world. Salt gives taste whereas light takes away the darkness. With these metaphors of salt and light, we might firmly affirm that we should be Christians whose life matter. We should affect others. We cannot be like a stagnate water but flowing fresh river water. There must be a transparent quality to our lives. Our friends and family, our neighbors and fellow citizens, should see reflected in us the light of Christ and through us be attracted to the saving truths of the Gospel. If we live for Christ, we will glow like light. Thus we can be a beacon of hope for others.


- Olvin Veigas, SJ

09th February 2020

God has His Say in Everything

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Readings: Malachi 3:1–4; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–40

(The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Fra Angelico, 1440-1442)

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Today’s feast marks the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, forty days after he was born. As the firstborn, he belonged to God. According to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph were required to take him to the Temple and “redeem” him by paying five shekels or a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. At the same time, the Law required the child’s mother to offer sacrifice in order to overcome the ritual impurity brought about by childbirth.

I

What is fascinating and prominently make their presence felt in this Scripture passage are two elderly people, Simeon and prophetess Anna. Both came to the temple where Jesus would be presented because of the promptings of the Holy Sprit. Interestingly, both were looking for something extraordinary in their peak of life or in their ripe age.  Finally they meet whom for so long they had prayed, read in the prophetic writings and heard from their Rabbis.

The senior Simeon astonishes both the parents of Jesus, especially the mother, Mary. She would be coming to know here first sorrow among the seven sorrows mentioned in the Gospels.  This will be a source of deep pain for the Mother, something she will not realize fully until she sees him die in agony before her eyes.  Simeon's words must have been very puzzling and even alarming to Mary and Joseph. I suppose no mother would like to hear such bad futuristic thoughts about their child.

Every parent would like to know the future of the child, what this child would become; what it would accomplish, etc.?  Parents have dreams for their children. It is rightly to have dreams for one's offsprings.

II

Simeon also gives us a very challenging prayer, which we do everyday Compline, Night Prayer, in other words, whenever we recite "Nunc dimittis" from  the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 through 32, meaning "Now you dismiss".

"Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel."

Both these elderly persons of the Lucan Gospel, Simeon and Anna remind us that God has His say in everything, even at the last moments of our life. It could be even when we have gone through rough sea's of life; in things which must have been really difficult and disappointing. Still we could give a chance to God to do his job for us. He will have his say and that would be the right one, promising one, and which we must have been waiting for so long.

III

The presence of Jesus must have been such an astonishing event in their long lives of Simeon and Anna. All the pain of being a widow, childless that she must must have been carrying on for more than 60 years of life must have vanished with that wink of seeing Jesus, the little baby in the arms his mother, Mary.

The presence of Jesus is must for every Christian where ever they are. The liturgy invites us to be the presence of Jesus in the world around us and to be able to recognize Jesus as revealed or made present by others.
Saint Teresa of Avila puts it so beautifully how and what it means to be the presence of Jesus in the world:

God of love, help us to remember 

That Christ has no body now on earth but ours 

No hands but ours, No feet but ours 

Ours are the eyes to see the needs of the world. 

Ours are the hands with which to bless everyone now. 

Ours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.

And, to recognize Jesus made present by others, we perhaps need to, as Simeon and Anna did, rely on God’s grace.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

02nd February 2020

Failures have a Future

(Photo courtesy: Jean-Mark Arkalian)

Although none of us like to encounter failures, unfortunately they are part and parcel of our lives. The more we run away from them, more they haunt us. Failures are facts of life. None of us can escape from failures either big or small, seldom or continuous.

A matured leaf has to ripen, dry and fall on the ground. Only then a new leaf would make its place and the branch would grow. Every failure is a pillar of success. Failures come and go and but we remain there.

As I read through the book of Samuel, especially the story of the rise and fall of Saul, the first king of the Jews in the 11th century BCE (1 Sam 9) the facts on failures become very vivid.  With his kingship, the Jews made a definite move from tribal society to a statehood. Things fail, human person fails, even God fails. This could be seen in the life of King Saul. In spite of the resistance of prophet Samuel, Yahweh wants to fulfil the desire of Israelites. Samuel tries to persuade the Jews not to look for a king by giving them various reasons and how the king would exploit and enslave its citizens. However, Yahweh has different plans. God asks Samuel to listen to the people. Vox populi est vox Dei, the voice of people is the voice of God. Finally, Samuel anoints the best person among Jewish male: "There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else" (1 Sam 9:2). 

Unfortunately, the story of king Saul does not end here with success but in utter failure personally and collectively. Saul follows his own ways instead of the book of the covenant, thus leading to an admonition from the prophet Samuel who had anointed him as the king (1 Sam 15).  Saul is rejected as a king and David was anointed in his place. The question that troubles us is this: How is that God who had chosen such a formidable man lost favour in the sight of God so quickly? Didn't God think well about Saul before making such an important milestone in the history of Israel by providing them first Jewish king? Why didn't God give enough wisdom to Saul to do the right and appropriate things?

God failed in the person of Saul. But the story has a colourful continuation. God raises another man more handsome and more courageous and talented in David. For God nothing is impossible. Perhaps we make things impossible when God wants us to be successful. He prepares us to beat the failures. There are always alternative routes to make our failures into success. Moreover, we should take different approaches. With our little failures we think that is the end of the story. In fact, it is the beginning of a new story with more scintillating and courageous one. Because every failure will be redeemed in order to be more successful. God is the future. Hence, failures have a bright and shiny future.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

28th January 2020

God Reveals And Works Amidst Us

The Feast of Epiphany -Readings: Isaiah 60:1–6; Ephesians 3:2–3, 5–6; Matthew 2:1–12

(Adoration of the Magi, Jan Boeckhorst, 1652)

Listen to my Audio Homily

The feast of Epiphany, in other words, the manifestation of our Lord, is an important event in the liturgical calendar. This feast brings us to the end of season that we started with First Sunday of Advent. While reading the narrative of those three wise men in search of baby Jesus sets us to think three important factors, in light of revelation of God and His work amidst us.

1. Confusion and clarity

2. Protection and proclamation

3. Mystery has a indilutable meaning.

I

Firstly, confusion and clarity: The Gospel of Matthew says, "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him" (Mt 2:3). God works through confusion. There was a reason for King Herod and his palace to get disturbed and confused. Our God is a God of light and not of darkness. When God's light enters into the reign of darkness then there is confusion, commotion and terrific disturbance. This is happens for a good reason. The clarity does not come out just like that, without a whisk or leaving its deep traces. Clarity has its costs. 

God empowers those who are ready to hear and listen to him. The three wise men belong to this group of people who believed when one door closes another opens. God opens the door to these non-Jews and non-Romans. In fact, God had bigger, brighter and better plans. God brings clarity about His sovereignty to those who do not know him yet. The kingdom of God belongs to everyone even to those who are not within the purview of those "first called". Sometimes God can bring out good out of those evil people like Herod, at least, in pointing out the right direction even though they may not follow. Which evil man or woman wants to follow the right path even when the way to heaven is clear? The men in the Herod's palace were able to guide the magi in their search for the source eternal life, Jesus Christ. However, once the magi's task is accomplished God gives them different direction, a right sight to see in everything indomitable clarity and follow that path. Therefore, they need no more the star that they saw earlier. Thus they follow the vision or the path shown by God to reach their destiny. 

II

Secondly, protection and proclamation: God's work continues uninterrupted. Even when there is opposition or insecurity, still God knows how to protect His good work. The rescue and the evacuation of baby Jesus, and the parents, Joseph and Mary happens in a unique but in a bold way. God wants his work to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Therefore He chooses a person of his own. When there is threat at the very initial stages of its operation, God counters it very boldly with magnificent attitude of self-worth. The very protection of baby Jesus becomes a sign of proclamation. God makes known His presence and His work to His people through signs and wonders. This is what the feast of Epiphany is all about. God's work cannot be destroyed. God cannot be challenged. Instead, God can only be encountered. Am I ready for this task?

III

Thirdly, mystery has a definite meaning. Often, we find difficult to find meaning in the mystery of Incarnation of God in the world.  St Paul writing to the Ephesians emphasises that God through His grace has revealed to us the mystery of God's coming into this world. So, the new era of salvation belongs to all. God continues to shape us and fashion us in that mystery. No one has seen God but through Jesus we know God. God empowers us to know the mystery of God's life. God does not hide from us but opens himself to us provided we are ready to listen to him and work accordingly. God sends his people to proclaim Him. The wise men from the East are those who did this first job of proclaiming the mystery of Incarnation to the world. 

Through the gifts the magi bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh, God reveals himself that those who are baptised in Christ are just like him embodied with kingship, priesthood and prophetic role. In other words, we become partakers in His mission; moreover, "become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1: 4).

Olvin Veigas, SJ

The Feast of Epiphany (05.01.2020)

Joseph's Dream and Child's Cry

The Feast of Holy Innocent Martyrs - Readings: 1 John 1:5—2:2; Matthew 2:13-18

The Killing of the Innocents by Herod (detail), Leon Cogniet ca.1824.

Listen to my Audio family (Preached in Jebel Ali Parish, Dubai)

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
28th December 2019 (13th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood)

God is Born among Us

Readings: Isaiah 52:7–10; Hebrews 1:1–6;  John 1:1–18

(The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard von Honthorst, 15th Century)

Listen to my audio homily (Preached in St Francis of Assisi Church, Jebel Ali, Dubai)

A very happy Christmas to you all!

Today, we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus. The great awaited day has come after a fruitful preparation of 'Advent'.   Saviour is born to all.  Jesus is amidst us, one among the humanity, shedding radiant light of heavenly presence here on earth. What a joy! What a peace! God's love is manifested very poignantly and permanently. 

This great feast of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity teaches us three things today.

Firstly, Christmas is a celebration of a historical but defining event in the history of the world. The darkness has gone out of our lives through the radiant light of the heavenly Son. We celebrate every year the same event but always with unique and eloquently loving fervour. By His coming, Jesus sanctified us, brought salvation to his forlorn and directionless humanity. May be the Jesus' birth was a simple event in a complex of world of his times, but the little baby in a Bethlehem created uproars  and tumult in the palace of Herod, awe among the shepherds who were keeping a close watch over their herds on the mountains and hills, brightness on the faces of magi of the East. For many still the brith of Jesus may be 'no' event at all, but in reality, this event still shakes up the powers of our rulers, riches of the haves and pride of the mighty. God shakes them up through His prophets and people.

Secondly, Christmas is the keeping the memory alive of that event of Christ's Incarnation in the world. The Son of God's entry into the messy world of human history opens up a new chapter for humanity. This calls us to keep this memory alive by meditating, reflecting and practicing what he preached. It's a call to follow him who was, who is and who will be.

Thirdly, Jesus is reborn in our hearts, homes, families, parishes and in the world today in concrete situations and particular places. Often, we are lost in the messy, complex and evil acts of this world, which threaten us to see Jesus alive and active; moreover, being born amidst us again and again.  There is too much strife, war, evil acts in the world leaving no room for God's mercy, compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, love, justice and peace. We are called to create a world of God here on earth by practicing God's mercy, tenderness, compassion, love, forgiveness, justice and peace. It is not the peace and justice that the world gives but that of God.  There is no peace without justice and no justice without love and forgiveness.  Perhaps we might be able to do our little mite as Christians, as brothers and sisters and as "friends of the Lord."

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

Christmas Day 2019

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!

Christmas Wishes

(Art by Mark Rupnik, SJ)

With Christmas the long-awaited event has become real in the person of Jesus Christ, our saviour. He came and made his home among us. This happy news changed everything, including how we view our life and how best we can make of it. With Christmas the grandeur of God is manifested profoundly and poignantly. God’s coming into the world made a fresh start in the life of humanity. The carols and hymns that we sing during this time remind us again and again that we need not be afraid. All kinds of fear, anxiety, frustration, angst and discouragement is transformed into courage, strength and power because of Jesus’ arrival amidst us. This is a momentous time for all of us to start fresh and new in and with the Lord. 

Jesus came to sow peace. Perhaps, this peace is not the way we think about. Because His ways are not our ways. We do not think like God. However, Jesus asked his disciples to continue this project of peace, justice and truth against all odds. The Child of Bethlehem still attracts attention today by the gentleness and simplicity it embodies and bears testimony to. Probably, the vision of God for us and the entire humanity might be brightened one day wholly and completely. 

The sad and agonising part of today is that we see so much injustice, violence, and brokenness in our world, in our church, in our communities, and in our own hearts. At times, we might feel engulfed and overwhelmed by it all, unable to see, feel or react anything else, unable to envision any other reality. But God sees them all with His own eyes. God sees the possibility of transformation already present in our broken world and in our broken selves. God is present and at work here, now, inviting us to see and participate. Conversion and transformation is a response to God's call of love. This change happens when conversion and interior transformation take place. Through this process of a pilgrimage, we move closer to God. 

The story of Christmas is our story.  Christmas is the feast of God's love for us. It is a story of the celebration of life and life in abundance. So, let us celebrate life.  With Christ’s birth amidst us, we are called to celebrate life in everyday and every way. This happens by change in  our attitudes which show growth in our convictions and principles. St John Henry Newman said, "to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often."  Life of holiness and sanctification is ushered by Jesus and there is no looking back. We walk with Christ and Christ will show us the way, truth and life. This life which is unique and essential in the sight of God will give us a new meaning and moment.  

A Christmas Prayer

Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth, may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.

Merry Christmas; Happy and grace-filled New Year 2020!

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

24th December 2019

Christian Hashtag of God is with Us

4th Sunday of Advent - Readings:Isaiah 7:10–14; Romans 1:1–7; Matthew 1:18–24

(CG Christmas Program 2019)

Listen to my audio homily (preached in St Francis of Assisi Church, Jebel Ali, Dubai)

From our conception to resurrection and our life in God in eternity, we the Christians carry a hashtag called "God-is-with-us." All the three readings of today bring us closer to Christmas. The readings also remind us that how much God loves us. He has not left us alone but accompanies us always. The symbol of his love for us is shown through His coming into the world in the person of Jesus. This great historical and salvific event changed the whole world and we can put it as the second most important event since the creation. 

There are three things which are incredibly significant for us with this Christian hashtag of God is with us.

I

Firstly, God comes to us in a mysterious but particular way. "God is with us" communique comes to us from God's people or His angels. In today's reading it is Angel Gabriel. Joseph is awakened in a dream by the messenger of God and tells him that he cannot leave Mary, his betrothed wife because she has conceived already by the Holy Spirit. Joseph has a terrifying dream but a promising plan in that moment of great desolation, disappointment and frustration. Dreams are very important. A person without a dream and a nation without a vision is doomed to perish. God comes to us in our unexpected times. God gives strength in those trying and confusing and complex moments of Joseph, because God knows how best to help the person in such moments. God is present in his desolation, in his disappointments, and in his discouragement.

In our Christian living, we become part of God's life through our baptism. This mark of our baptismal sacrament unites us with God with a very special bond. We accept Jesus as our saviour and Lord. Through the fount of baptism, we begin to receive other sacraments in our life as a symbol that God is with us. This allows us to move, live and have our being in God.

II

Secondly, Mary's openness to God is total and complete. Mary is a woman of the present; a woman of the moment. She is not bothered about the past or the future. Past is gone, future is uncertain but what is available now is present. But she is ready now. God comes to her in her readiness. "Let thy will be done." Mary takes up the challenge. In her openness, in her readiness, God comes to her. Thus  the sense of "God is with us" becomes totally true in her life. She is blessed with the child of God, Immanuel, God-is-with-us. In other words, God comes to us in our readiness, in our present moment. In whatever work we do let our mantra be like Mary, the Theotokos, fiat voluntas tua, - "let Thy will be done".

III

Thirdly, call to holiness. St Paul, in his letter to the Romans tells us that our God is holy. Through our life of holiness we encounter God. We see that God is with us. Through his power of the Holy Spirit, he is proclaimed in holiness. All of us receive that grace of faith and holiness because we carry with us Jesus, the name of Immanuel each and every moment of our life. However, we need to live that life of holiness everyday and each and every moment of our life in faith and practice. Only then, God becomes truly present, i.e. God-is-with-us.

Happy Advent!

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

22nd December 2019