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HOMILY: 3RD SUNDAY IN ADVENT [YEAR B]
THEME: FACIAL RECOGNITION
BY: Fr Andrew Ekpenyong
1. Unrecognized. Facial recognition technology speeds up check-ins at airports, enhances security, and so on. Let’s start with a facial recognition joke. Mrs Jones started doing her makeup as soon as she woke up. Her husband asked the reason. She replied, “I locked my phone with facial recognition. And it’s not recognizing me without makeup.” Although TIME Magazine’s data-driven and internet-based ranking puts Jesus Christ as the most significant person in history (https://ideas.time.com/2013/12/10/whos-biggest-the-100-most-significant-figures-in-history/), we know that there are places in our world today where our Lord is yet to be recognized just as He was unrecognized among the people of Bethany, as John the Baptist pointed out in today’s Gospel reading: “…but there is one among you whom you do not recognize…” (Jn 1:26). Sisters and Brothers, although I am joyful because I know Christ, and my heart is filled with gratitude to God, I have not yet been able to rejoice always or pray without ceasing as we are taught in today’s 2nd reading (1 Thess 5:16-24). Why? It’s because there are aspects of my life in which Jesus Christ still stands unrecognized as He stood unrecognized at Bethany. I am yet to recognize Christ in some of my neighbors. What about you? Here is a story about this challenge.
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2. Sorrowful Joy. The disciples of a rabbi once asked him: “Rabbi, how should one determine the moment in which night ends and day begins?” The rabbi answered: “It is when you look into the face of a stranger and see your sister or brother, until then, night is still with us.” Yes, night is still with us on this planet at this time, with so many conflicts, but we can be joyful in anticipation of the dawn. It is anticipatory joy. It is sorrowful joy which happens when we trust in the unfailing love of God in the midst of a fallen world. No wonder today is called “Gaudete Sunday”. The readings give us reasons to rejoice: “Gaudete” is Latin for the imperative “rejoice!”. The rose-colored candle for today or even rose-colored vestments emphasize the words of Scripture that we have reasons to rejoice, despite the darkness around. Rose or pink is the color that combines the passion of red with the purity of white and it is associated with love, tranquility, tenderness, nurturing, vulnerability, and joy. It means that our repentance, our confession of our sins, and efforts at amending our lives during the first two weeks of Advent (purple) are now bearing fruits of joy. We are now experiencing joy in anticipation of ultimate salvation.
3. Joyful Reasons. That ultimate salvation starts with many forms of liberation as outlined in the first reading (Is 61:1-2, 10-11). Though poor because of unequal opportunities, though broken-hearted because of sickness and death of dear ones, though in captivity by our addictions, though imprisoned by our vain passions, we have received the good news of a Kingdom of zero poverty, complete health, total freedom and perfect happiness through the forgiveness of our sins. This is why we should rejoice. Our victory over sin is unfolding. Prophet Isaiah claimed it for himself, and each of us should do the same using his words: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice”. (Is 61:10). We are rejoicing over what God has done and continues to do to save us. I am singing in my heart the inspired words of the Blessed Virgin Mary in today’s responsorial psalm: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk 1:46). But my joy is still sorrowful joy and incomplete because I am yet to fully recognize the image of God, of Christ, in every human being on this planet. Another statement from Our Lady’s Magnificat, gives me joyful hope. She said: “He has come to the help of his servant Israel”. Yes, Israel as Jacob, committed many sins and also suffered bitterly from the sins of others. Jacob, obtained his twin brother’s birthright when Esau was at his weak point due to hunger. Jacob deceived his Dad and got blessings meant for Esau. Esau tried to kill Jacob. Jacob fled for 20 years. It was 20 years of darkness. But God came to the help of Jacob, inspiring him to return and reconcile with his brother, Esau. That reconciliation led to perhaps the most exciting facial recognition of all time. After Esau ran to, embraced, and kissed his brother, and they wept for joy, Jacob said: “…to see your face is for me like seeing the face of God—and you have received me so kindly.” (Gen 33:10). Wow. This means that when we forgive our enemies, the image of God already in every human being, becomes even clearer and our forgiven enemies recognize the face of God, the image of God in us! May our reconciliation with others this season of joy, lead to such facial recognition and peaceful coexistence, to the glory of God. Amen.
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