Monday, December 1, 2008

Homily – December 1, 2008 – First Week of Advent - Monday

We now enter into the Advent Weekdays with hopeful and joyful expectation. Our hearts can sense the beginning of a new day – the first streaks of the morning light of dawn. Christ is our Light and this season draws us ever more fully into that light! It is the light of God's glory (that we read in the Old Testament reading) which was a sign of shelter and protection for his people as they waited for the arrival of the Messiah!

The arrival of the Messiah meant truth (Light), grace and healing for those who would believe.

The gospel passage today relates how pleased Jesus is that a Roman centurion demonstrates great faith in him when he asks to cure his servant. This first of all shows what a truly compassionate man the centurion was – he cared very much that his servant was paralyzed and suffering greatly! Jesus was also amazed that in truly humility he would not even want Jesus to come to his house – and so he says those historically famous words that we all speak at every Mass: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."

So amazed was Jesus at this pagan man's faith that he immediately cured the servant and assured the man that the likes of him would be reclining with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven!

May we also be among those who are reclining: because of our faith, because we believe in Jesus the Light of Day who came so that we might all be saved!

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