This Sermon is prepared by
Rev.Fr.Peter Jayakanthan sss
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Corpus Christi Catholic Church,
Houston, Texas, US
2nd Sunday of Advent Year-BJourney is….. my exodus!Is 40:1-5,9-11, 2Pet3:8-14, Mk1:1-8Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, I welcome you to this second week of the hope filled season of Advent. We may have various thoughts and plans in our mind being in the last month of the year. We have additional tasks to accomplish before 24th midnight. We gather every aspiration to the altar of God, seeking His wish for our better celebration of Christmas in our families and community. This will be a special moment of renewal in our life journey.What is required for a special journey? This was the question of the teacher before the students could volunteer for a month long summer mission in Ecuador. The following responses came from students: food, first-aid, GPS, fun, friends, party, guide, ability to adjust to weather, money and the willingness are the necessary requirement for any special journey. The teacher summarized the responses of the students and said, “I agree but having acquired all that you said, and not possess the courage, everything is useless.” Courage is necessary to take along any journey. It may be to an unknown country, it may be for military training, it may be a mountain journey, or it may be a space journey…all journeys demand certain amounts of courage. It comes from the Almighty when we are ready for this journey. History reveals that great persons made their journey unique with achievement with only courage. The journey of the Church started with 12 men, Mother Mary and few friends. Blessed Mother Teresa started her journey with her new vision just having Rs.5/ (10cents) in hand. A mother journeys nine months carrying the baby in her womb. Students journey for years to accomplish graduation. Person who dreams to fight for the country from the front, journeys in the military academy. People carried courageous hope in their journey at the concentration camp. All these journeys teach us that we need to look ahead courageously to keep moving. In the first reading the call is offered to the people of Israel to recall their ancestors’ exodus journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It was long years of slavery, the constant attack of Egyptian army, the hungry experience in the desert and the 40 days absence of Moses their leader; in midst of everything, it was the constant courage of Yahweh that made their journey possible. Why is there another invitation for a new exodus here? After 60 or 70 years of being away from their holy city of Jerusalem in Babylonian exile, and the Persian King Cyrus delivered them from Babylonians, freeing them. Here, the Prophet Isaiah proclaims to begin a new exodus journey with these words. The Lord is your courage, He is your shepherd, holding your hand, carrying you, guiding you and leading by being close to you. He will make the entire rough path smooth and even. Here is the reminder to re-live the exodus experience of rough path slavery towards the smooth path of freedom, Promised Land and receiving of the commandments. Where is this journey going to? How this journey is possible? Isaiah confirms that this journey is from their broken moments of Babylonian exile to Judea. It is towards the hill top of the city of Jerusalem. It is the dwelling place of God, the meeting place of God and worshipping place. He also says that The Lord is there for you, He is also close to you like a shepherd journeying with you. He is your courage and comfort. Your ancestors’ exodus journey was a courageous and liberative event; likewise your journey will be part of history and salvation story. What are the journeys of our life, where we hesitate to move, proceed and look ahead? What do we lack? Can I explore my own exodus journey? In the gospel, Mark places St. John the Baptist as the beginning message and proclaimer of his gospel writing. Why does he start with John the Baptist not Jesus? What message do we derive? It is said that Mark was the disciple of Peter. Mark must have heard all the stories orally from journeying with Peter. The Church was struggling after the departure of twelve apostles to different places. Romans established their power from Palestine to Rome. Julius Ceaser was called divine, his adopted son Augustus, was called as sun of God, and the rulers wanted to be adored in the place of God. All those refused were persecuted and tortured. The death of Peter and Paul and other Christians inspired and kept the Church together. But the Roman pressure put the people in a delicate situation. They thought their journey of following Jesus had ended here. In this context it is around 60 A.D Mark is writing to the people to journey courageously. He offers the lively example of John the Baptist. His courage, proclamation, faith and hope invited people to make a new exodus journey through Baptism of water and spirit. He affirms that The Messiah alone will be the son of God. He being the last prophet of the OT and the first prophet of the NT affirms that the exodus journey is continuous. Earlier it was from Egypt to the Promised Land, then Babylon to Judea, and now to Jordan. We can make this journey possible only by believing in the courageous hand of the Lord. Courage….continue….all the ups and downs will become straight to pass through. In a recent movie Gravity, the heroine Sandra Bullock misses the way from the space. With all the fear and helplessness, she remembers her small daughter who passed away in her early age. Bullock says this, honey I know you are with the Lord, can you pray for me? Can you get courage from above for my journey? When bullock reached the land her first word she said, “Thank you”. Any journey we make either on earth or in space is another exodus…..possible only with the courage of the Lord. What are our exodus journeys? Where have we moved courageously? Where have we stayed back with doubts and fears? The Lord is holding, leading and guiding like a shepherd; let us keep walking with courage……a new exodus-Amen. 
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