DAILY HOMILIES #Messiah

Jesus physically comes into the temple as a baby, but He is the king of kings. This is why today’s Responsorial Psalm proclaims, “O gates, lift high your heads, let Him enter the king of glory.” Simeon and Anna, like everyone else, saw a baby, but they also had eyes to see beyond His form as a baby. They recognised and worshipped God in Jesus. Do you recognise God’s presence in the Holy Eucharist, or do you see only bread?

I guess you’re asking, “Does Jesus need a hypeman?” Yes. Jesus needs you and me to tell the world about Him. Jesus needs your voice, your hands, your legs. He needs your platform, your social media space, your connections, and your popularity. If worldly-minded people are not ashamed to identify with evil, why are we ashamed of our Christian faith? If, for the sake of monetisation, our youths today are ready to do wild things on social media, why are we afraid of “going crazy” for Jesus, knowing that the reward that awaits us far outweighs the dollars they hope to earn from social media companies?

As soon as John the Baptist baptised Jesus, it became clear that Jesus did not come to be cleansed from sin. Instead, Jesus came to reveal (to manifest, to make known – epiphany) Himself to the world as God and as the second person of the Trinity. The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven said: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Those who witnessed this event quickly recalled the passage from Isaiah (where our first reading today comes from), and it dawned on them powerfully that Jesus is not just anybody but God among men; the promised Son of God; the Saviour and Redeemer of the world.

The chief priests and Pharisees doubted Jesus, but as today’s first reading shows, Jesus is truly the Messiah. Truth does not force itself on anyone; it does not depend on how we feel about what we choose to accept. Truth is truth, regardless of whatever anyone thinks. Yes, Jesus is God.

Jesus was surprised at their poor reception. He told them, “A prophet is never appreciated in his hometown.” We often despise what belongs to us. We look down on our family members, our home, our community, and even our country. Like the people of Nazareth, we don’t believe God can take flesh among us. Jesus further told them how they had always looked down on the prophets. As a result, foreigners like the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian received Divine intervention while they (the chosen children of God) were left out.

Today’s first reading pays a glowing tribute to Elijah. Not many people have such beautiful tributes. I once read a quote: “Live a good life so that no one will be forced to lie about you during your funeral.” Like John the Baptist, we are all called to become Elijah today.

In John the Baptist, we learn that no human life comes into existence randomly. God does the selection, arrangement, and planning. We existed in God’s mind even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 says: “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.”

Like Herod, who killed all the male children born at the time for fear of a rival king, the chief priests and Pharisees couldn’t stomach the idea of Jesus replacing them. Are there people I wish dead because they are far better than me (in school, business, career, church work, etc.)? Do I feel threatened by others’ progress?

The point in today’s messages is simple: Jesus is God in the midst of people. We have no reason to doubt that Jesus is the Promised Messiah. Every prophecy about Jesus came to pass, even those made thousands of years before he was born. We do not need any further proof. Jesus is Truly God.

Ordinarily, you should assume that when something good happens to you, people should be happy for you. Isn’t it? The bitter truth is that there will always be scribes and Pharisees around us - people who take offence knowing we are happy. They pretend to be our friends, but the moment our status changes (when things improve for us), they show their true colours.

Do I look down on my priest because I knew him as a seminarian? Do I find it difficult to ask my priest to pray for me because I don’t believe God can work through him? Like those who looked down on Jesus, you may assume you know everything about your priest, but you might be wrong. Don’t forget that God is not like us. God chooses the weak to shame the strong.

Today should be a day of joy for us, a day to celebrate the final victory of life over death, a day to celebrate our firm assurance that heaven exists, that just as Christ ascended to heaven, we too shall one day depart this earth and be united with God in heaven. Immediately after the ascension, the disciples entered a mood of prayer in preparation for the Holy Spirit. This is exactly what we must do now.