FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

READINGS AT MASS

2Sam. 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16

Psalm 89

Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

Theme: HOW CAN THIS BE?

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Mary's question to the Angel Gabriel reveal her humanity and the reality of impossibilities as far as we are concern. The angel assures her and us of the fact God is not limited by human impossibilities. All that is required of us is an act of faith. When we take a step towards God in faith and generosity, He does what is impossible in us and with us.

David's act of faith and generosity led to the perpetual establishment of his royal household, a promise that is been culminated in the birth of Jesus Christ as being announced to Mary in the Gospel. Mary act of faith, despite her perceived impossility (how can this be since...), led God to break through the history of men.

Beloved, as we end the advent season this morning, let us pray for the strength that once again, we too will be able to take courageous steps of generosity and faith towards God, especially during this season of joy. 

PRAYER

Almighty God and Father, May the coming joy of Christmas make us strong in our act of faith towards you, our God. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre 

Sunday, December 24, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

READINGS AT MASS

Isa. 61:1-2, 10-11

Luke 1

1 Thess. 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Theme: WHO ARE YOU?

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday because of the theme of joy that runs through the texts for the day. 

The concept of joy is a complex reality that continues to elude the grasp of men. We all want to be happy in life. We wish to feel good and fulfilled about ourselves and our achievements. But the question is where does true happiness come from?

The personality of John the Baptist is presented to us again in the Gospel text for today. John's disposition in his encounter with the Jewish leaders who came to inquire about his identity has some deep lessons for us. John the Baptist knew who he was and was not. His identity was clear to him. He would not allow himself to be forced to be what he was not. He told them, I am not the Christ. 

Beloved, there is so much pain and unhappiness in pretending to be what we are not. Many people have been hurt and many more have died in their efforts at being something or someone else. You can never be happy living someone else's life or appropriating their glory to yourself. What joy is there in taking or denying the glory that belongs to others?

The joy of Christmas is in God giving up His glory for us and we acknowledging, praising and worshiping Him for it. Our happiness is in bringing these glad tidings to others. The Christmas joy and the Good News cannot be horded, it must be shared abroad for the salvation of all. 

PRAYER

Almighty God and Father,  may the coming joy of Christmas make us agents of glad tidings to others. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, December 17, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

READINGS AT MASS

Isa. 40:1-5, 9-11

Psalm 85

2 Peter. 3:8-24

Mk. 1:1-8

Theme: A VOICE CRYING IN THE DESERT

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

In the first reading for today, the prophet Isaiah begins a new chapter of his prophecy by looking further, past their present woes, to greater things. In this hopeful vision of the future, He draws the people's attention to an important but not-so-obvious event of a lonely voice crying in the wilderness (desert). The not so popular voice keeps echoing to call the people to transform their hearts for a redemptive encounter with their God. All the directives needed for this encounter are stipulated in the message delivered by this voice.

The Gospel message, though coming to us regularly, has, in fact, become a lonely voice in the desert in our generation. Like the voice of John the Baptist, it keeps resounding, yet only a few pay attention to it. Our inattentiveness to the Gospel message makes it a deserted voice in the wilderness of our hearts. If only we would listen to it and pay attention to the divine directives stipulated in it, it would lead us to a restorative encounter.

On this Second Sunday of Advent, let us re-examine our attentiveness to the 'unassuming' Word of God that keeps coming to us every day.

PRAYER

Almighty God and Father may the voices calling me to transformation of my heart towards you never be deserted. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

READINGS AT MASS

Isa. 63:16-17, 19,  64:2-7

Psalm 80

1Cor. 1:3-9

Mk. 13:33-37

Theme: FIRM TO THE END

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

On this First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Church's Liturgical year, we shall bless the Advent wreath and light the first purple candle, which stands for hope. 

This first candle, together with the readings of the day, brings our attention to the importance of hope. But more than that, the readings for the day also point to an important threat to the hope in our hearts. That is fatigue and disappointment. 

Fatigue and disappointment are dangerous for hope. The crunching period of waiting that comes with hope and the disappointment that sometimes follows the firm expectations that we have can diminish or even crush our hope.

The context of today's first reading is probably the period of return from exile in Babylon. The people were disappointed in what they found upon their return. The destruction and the deplorable state of their homeland did not comensorate the glory and the fruitfulness that was promised. Their hope was dashed, and they were disappointed in God. But in their disappointment, the prophet sees and proclaims untiring hope. 

It is important that we do not allow pain, fatigue, and disappointment to diminish our hope. We must not get tired of hoping. For this reason, Paul prayed that the faithful at Corinth might be kept firm to the end. We must keep firm and steady in faith, hope, and love until the end.

PRAYER

Almighty God, please grant us the grace to keep firm in hope, baring all disappointments that we may face. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, December 3, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.