Homily - 2C Advent, Sunday homily (08 December 2024) Prepare the way of the Lord

 

2C ADVENT SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 3:1-6, DECEMBER 8, 2024 

1. STORY

John, who knew no English, was on his way from Hong Kong to begin a new job as a cook in London.  At the airport he was told that the direct flight took about 12 hours.  After boarding the plane, he was amazed when the plane landed after an hour and a half.  He knew something was wrong.  To his great amazement, he was told that he was not in London but in Manila.  Unknowingly, he boarded the wrong plane.  He had to make a big change.  He then had to get off the plane, return to Hong Kong and on the next day, get on a plane to London.  To repent means to change.

 

2. GOSPEL LUKE 3:1-6

A. PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD

In the gospel John tells us what we must do and how to do it.  First, what must we do?  We must “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” 

B. REPENT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Second, John tells us how we must prepare the way for the Lord.  We must repent for the forgiveness of sins.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

i) ADVENT, A TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF JESUS

Jesus wishes to come to us in a special way at Christmas.  What makes this difficult for Jesus?  Sin in our lives makes this difficult.  Sins are like large rocks in a road which make it difficult to walk on the road or for a car to travel on the road.  The rocks in our heart may be anger, destructive criticism, hatred, pride, or selfishness.  This is what the Baptist means to make straight the paths. 

B. REPENT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

The Baptist tells us how to prepare for the coming of Jesus.  We must repent which means that we must make changes in our lives.  We must change anger into kindness, destructive criticism into praise, hatred into love, pride into humility, and selfishness into generosity.  To change we must rely on God’s help.

Here are three suggestions for you to do during Advent.

i) Make every effort to make a good confession.

ii) Put up a Christmas crib in your home to remind you and others that we are preparing for the celebration of the birthday of Jesus. 

iii) Invite a relative or a friend to Christmas Mass.

 

4. CONCLUSION

John got on the wrong plane.  He had to change and get on the right plane to get to London.  To repent means to change our bad habits into good habits.  The Baptist tells us what we must do.  We must prepare for the coming of Jesus.  The Baptist tells us how to do this.  He tells us we must repent by changing our bad habits into good habits.  During Advent make a good confession, put up a Christmas crib in your home, and invite a relative or a friend to Christmas Mass.  We thank Jesus for sending us John the Baptist.  We ask Jesus to help us make changes in our lives and to prepare well for Christmas.