Homily – 4th Sunday of Advent

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Homily – 4th Sunday of Advent

We all know that Jesus Christ was born 2,000 years ago. So, why do we need Christmas?  Christmas is an opportunity to let Christ be born, anew, in our personal lives.
Advent becomes a time of preparing ourselves for this to happen.

When we look at all the readings for the 4 weeks of Advent, we are able to see a “pathway” or procedure, to help make Christ present and meaningful in our lives.

But, first, it is good to reflect on the time when Jesus came into our world as a human being.
It was a time of struggle, where violence, oppression and destruction were common.

It was a time when people realised they could not solve their problems by themselves.
2,000 years ago, people were hoping for the promised Messiah to come.  So are we today.

And Jesus did come, but He was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting. They wanted a Saviour to fight for them, and solve their problems for them.

However, Jesus came and taught people to change their lives, so that they can solve their problems themselves.  In addition, Jesus gave us the example of his life:  sacrificing himself for others… not responding with violence… loving those who are rejected.

Advent allows us to look back on the year that has past, and see where we have made mistakes, where we have killed Christ by making ourselves important and mistreated others.

For Christ to come alive in our families, community and country, we need humility:
to let Christ be alive in us: Christmas is time to renew Christ visible in us.

A lion woke up one morning with a desire to remind his fellow creatures that he was king of the jungle. So he marched over to a monkey and roared:  “Who is the mightiest animal in the jungle?”  “You are, Master,” said the frightened monkey.

Then the lion came to a pig. “Who is the mightiest animal in the jungle?” roared the lion.
“You are, Master,” answered the frightened pig.

Next the lion met an elephant. “Who is the mightiest animal in the jungle?” roared the lion.
The elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk, slammed him against a tree, then dropped him and walked off.

“All right,” said the lion. “There’s no need to be nasty just because you don’t know the answer!”

If we think we are King of our family, then, “is there room at the Inn for Jesus Christ?”

The procedure that allows Jesus to be re-born in ourselves begins with a decision to be hopeful.  Feelings come and go: but we begin with a decision, and then by actions to realise it.

The sign of a hopeful person is one who is not afraid of the future,
and can be joyful even when things are not going well.

Hopeful persons also have problems, like you and I,
but they choose to think positively, and keep working as best as they can.

Another sign of a hopeful person is their ability to love others:
to have compassion, to assist, to forgive, and to listen to others.

We see the truth of hopeful people in the life of Mary:
She made a decision to trust in God… she said YES to the Archangel Gabriel.

Finally, why do we bother to humble ourselves and trust in God? So that we can be joyful… JOY comes after Trusting God: joy comes from our hearts and lasts a long time;
happiness comes from our head and lasts a short time because we make it ourselves.

Usually, when we turn away from God and try to do it ourselves,
to follow our own desires and rules, we end up unhappy and lost.

Let’s look for happiness by following the procedure of Jesus Christ:
1. decide to be hopeful;
2. Seek reconciliation;
3. Act with love to others; &
4. Be joyful.

If we love our family, we should try the procedure above.
When Christ can come alive in us, then Christmas will transform our families/community.

 

Homily—4th Sun Advent—C—23-Dec—KisajuMicah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10;  Luke 1:39-45.

We all know that Jesus Christ was born 2,000 years ago. So, why do we need Christmas?  Christmas is an opportunity to let Christ be born, anew, in our personal lives.  Advent becomes a time of preparing ourselves for this to happen.

Sisi sote tunajua kwamba, Yesu alizaliwa miaka elfu mbili iliopita. Basi, kwa nini tunahitaji Krismasi?  Krismasi ni nafasi kukubali Kristo kuzaliwa upya maishani mwetu.  Majilio ni muda kwa kutayarishia ili hii itakuwa kweli kabisa zaidi.

When we look at all the readings for the 4 weeks of Advent,
we are able to see a pathway to help make Christ present and meaningful in our lives.

Tunapoangalia masomo yote kwa wiki nne ya Majilio, tunaweza kuona njia inayosaidia Kristo kuwa na ina maana, ndani ya maisha yetu.

But, first, it is good to reflect on the time when Jesus came into our world as a human being.
It was a time of struggle, where violence, oppression and destruction were common.

Lakini, kwanza, ni mzuri tufikirie kuhusu wakati ambao Yesu aliingia dunia yetu
ni kama binadamu.  Wakati ule ni muda kwa bidii sana,
ambapo kulikuwa ghasia, dhuluma na uharibu ni kawaida.

It was a time when people realised they could not solve their problems by themselves.
2,000 years ago, people were hoping for the promised Messiah to come.  So are we today.

Wakati ule ni muda ilipokuwa watu waligundua hawakubali kutoa shida zao za wenyewe.
Miaka elfu mbili iliopita, wale wana tumaini kuwa Masiya walio ahadi kuja.
Tuwe hivyo pia ya leo.

And Jesus did come, but He was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting.
They wanted a Saviour to fight for them, and solve their problems for them.

Na Yesu alikuja, lakini alikuwa tofauti ya nini wale walikuwa wanategemea.
Wale walitaka Mkombozi alioweza kupigana kwa ajili yao, na kutoa shida zao zote!

But Jesus came and taught people to change their lives, so that they can solve their problems themselves. In addition, Jesus gave us the example of his life:  sacrificing himself for others… not responding with violence…  loving those who are rejected.

Lakini, Yesu alikuja na anawafundisha kubadilisha maisha yao, ili wanaweza kuondoa shida zao kwa wenyewe. Pia, Yesu alitupa mfano wa maisha yake: kusadaka mwenyewe kwa wengine… hakuita kwa dhuluma… kuwapenda watu wanaokataa.

Advent allows us to look back on the year that has past, and see where we have made mistakes,
where we have killed Christ by making ourselves important and mistreated others.

Muda ya Majilio yanatuweza kuangilia nyuma ya mwaka huu na kuona wapi
tulifanya makosa; wapi, tulimwua Yesu kwa kujifanya muhimu mwenyewe
na kujitunza sisi wenyewe na mbaya.

For Christ to come alive in our families, community and country,
we need humility to let Christ be alive in us… Christmas is time to renew Christ in us.

Kama Kristo atakuwa uhai katika familia zetu, jamii na nchi yetu,
inahitaji sisi tunakuwa na unyenyekevu ili Kristo kuwa uhai maishani yetu…
Krismasi ni wakati wa kumfanya Kristo kuwa mpya tena.

A lion woke up one morning with a desire to remind his fellow creatures that he was king of the jungle. So he marched over to a monkey and roared:  “Who is the mightiest animal in the jungle?”  “You are, Master,” said the frightened monkey.

Siku moja simba mmoja alimka kwa oni kuwakumbusha wanyama wenzake kwamba, Simba ni mfalme wa msitu. Basi, alitembea mpaka kwenye tumbili na
kumwuliza kwa sauti kubwa sana: “Nani ni nguvu sana zaidi katika msitu?”
Tumbili alioogopa alimwambia simba, “wewe ndiyo, bwana!”

Then the lion came to a pig. “Who is the mightiest animal in the jungle?” roared the lion.
“You are, Master,” answered the frightened pig.

Halafu, simba alikuja kwa nguruwe. “Nani ni nguvu sana zaidi katika msitu?”
Simba alimwuliza kwa sauit kubwa sana.  “wewe ndiyo, bwana!” nguruwe,
aliokuwa na hofu, alimwambia simba.

Next the lion met an elephant. “Who is the mightiest animal in the jungle?” roared the lion.
The elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk, slammed him against a tree, then dropped him and walked off.

Ijayo, simba alimkutana tembo mmoja. “Nani ni nguvu sana zaidi katika msitu?”
Simba alimwuliza kwa sauit kubwa sana.  Tembo huyo alinyakuwa simba na mkonga wake, na kupiga simba kwa mti, na kumwangusha ghafula, na tembo alitembea.

“All right,” said the lion. “There’s no need to be nasty just because you don’t know the answer!”

‘Sawa, sawa’ simba alisema. ‘Hakuna hitaji la kuwa mbaya kwa sababu haujui jibu hili!’

If we think we are King of our family, then, “is there room at the Inn for Jesus Christ?”

Kama tunadhani sisi ni Mfalme wa familia au jamii yetu, halafu je, “kuna nafasi ndani ya chumba cha Yesu?”

The pathway that allows Jesus to be re-born in ourselves begins with a decision to be hopeful.
Feelings come and go… but we must begin with a decision, and then do things to make it real.

Njia hii ambayo inamkubali Yesu kuzaliwa tena maishani yetu,
ianze kwa kujiamuzi kuwa mtumaini.  Maoni yetu huja na kuenda…
lakini inatulazimu kuanza kwa uamuzi, halafu kufanya vitu ili utaokuwa kweli.

The sign of a hopeful person is one who is not afraid of the future, and can be joyful even when things are not going well.

Ishara ya matumaini ni mtu ambaye haogopi ya wakati ujao,
na anaweza kuwa na furaha hata kama kuna changamoto na matatizo.

Hopeful persons also have problems, like you and I, but they choose to think positively, and keep working as best as they can.

Watumaini wana matatizo pia, ni kama sisi, lakini,
wao wanachagua kudhani mzuri, na kuendelea kufanya kazi nzuri wawezavyo.

Another signs of a hopeful person is their ability to love others: to have compassion, to assist, to forgive, and to listen to others.

Ishara nyingine ya mtumaini ni anaweza kuwapenda wengine:
kuwahurumia, kuwasaidia, kuwasamehe, na kuwasikiliza wengine.

We see the truth of hopeful people in the life of Mary: She made a decision to trust in God… she said YES to the Archangel Gabriel.

Tunaona ukweli kuhusu watumaini katika maisha ya Mama Maria:
alifanya uamuzi kumwamini Mungu… alimjibu “NDIYO” kwa malaika mkuu, Gabriel.

Finally, why do we bother to humble ourselves and trust in God? So that we can be joyful…
JOY comes after Trusting God: joy comes from our hearts and last a long time; happiness from our head and lasts a short time.

Basi, kwa nini tunahangaika kufanya unyenyekevu na kumwamini Mungu?
Ili tuwe na furaha…  “Joy,” furaha kutoka mioyo yetu, inakuja baada ya sisi kumwamini Mungu, inadumu kwa muda mrefu;
Lakini, “Happiness” furaha kutoka kwetu, inadumu kwa muda mfupi, kwa sababu tunjifanya hiyo sisi wenyewe.

Usually, when we turn away from God and try to do it ourselves, to follow our own desires and rules, we end up unhappy and lost.

Kwa kawaida, tunapozunguka kutoka Mungu na kujaribu kufanya furaha
kwa sisi wenyewe, kwa sababu sisi kufuata sheria na tamaa zetu,
halafu tutakuwa wenye huzuni na kutupotea.

Let’s look for happiness by following the pathway of Jesus Christ:
1. decide to be hopeful; 2. Seek reconciliation; 3. Act with love to others; & 4. Be joyful.

Tuwe kutafuta furaha kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo:
1.  Kuamuzi kuwa matumaini mtu;  2.  Kutafuta upatanisho;
3.  Kutenda upendo kwa wengine;  & 4.  Kuwa na furaha.

If we truly love our family, we should try the procedure above.
When Christ is able to come alive in us … and Christmas will transform our families & community.

Kama tunawapenda kweli wanafamilia, halafu, tuwe kujaribu njia ya Yesu hapa.
Kristo anapoweza atakuja kuzaliwa ndani yetu…
na Krismasi itageuza familia na jamii zetu.