A News Event

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus,  help me to spread your good news with power and joy.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A newspaper gives us news and also comments on news, which we call editorial. What about the good news we preach? The power of the good news which Jesus brought effects change with its full power when it is handled as a news event.

Professor and author Halford E. Luccock (1885-1960) often insisted that this fact should not be forgotten. “Christianity”, said Luccock, “did not come into the world through the editorial page; it came through the news columns. It was a news event - front page, stop-the-press news. Something happened: The word became flesh and dwelt among us. The gospel was first preached as news. Wherever it has been preached with power, it has been preached as news. Whenever it has dwindled down to mere advice, become merely editorial Christianity, it has evaporated in a cloud as vague as fog”. Preaching the good news with power, living under its message, guided by its truth, this is the challenge in which every Advent believer is to be renewed. Since it is good news, it must be communicated not only with power, but also with joy.

In the 1st reading of this Sunday (Is.40: 1-5, 9-11) we see prophet Isaiah proclaiming with joy the end of the exile and the exiles were able to look ahead to the future with hope. God would come for them and carry them home. Their path once almost impassable by sins would be made smooth and straight! (This was good news indeed).

The author of 2nd Peter proclaimed the gospel of God’s coming among us once more in the return of Jesus. That of course, is obvious good news: “the bad news”, if we dare to call it that, is that we must await that coming without the benefit of a timetable and we must maintain ourselves in holy preparedness during what seems like an interminable delay.

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist, Jesus’ own herald, appears as one who preached in word as well as in deed and lifestyle. John’s message is unmistakably clear and powerful. This was indeed the good news - the Saviour comes. His was also news that demanded change, change in the form of repentance, confession of sins, and baptism with water. Only change can free us from what holds us back from the fullness of life.