HANDMAIDS OF THE DIVINE REDEEMER (HDR) OF ACCRA
SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF SR. ANASTASIA AMA ASIEDUA ANANE, HDR AND SR. CELESTINE INNOCENTIA DOVLO, HDR
25TH MARCH, 2025
ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH, 37 – ACCRA
HOMILY BY MOST REV. JOHN KOBINA LOUIS
THEME: THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN
READINGS: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10/ Hebrews 10:4-10/ Luke 1:26-38
PREAMBLE
Firstly, on behalf of the Archbishop of Accra, his Auxiliaries, the Superior General and General Council of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) Sisters, the priests, consecrated persons, families of the jubilarians and all the faithful gathered here, I wish to congratulate you, Sr. Anastasia Ama Asiedua Anane, HDR, and Sr. Celestine Innocentia Dovlo, HDR, for your Silver Jubilee in consecrated life.
Secondly, we have gathered here to thank God for:
- Calling Sr. Anastasia and Sr. Celestine as blessed among women, like Mother Mary
- Giving them the grace to respond to Him like Mother Mary: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
- Granting them the grace to persevere in religious life for 25 good years, while they selflessly offer their respective skills for the service of others: Sr. Anastasia as an educationist and Sr. Celestine as an accounts professional.
INTRODUCTION
The theme for this homily is taken from a statement which the prophet Isaiah made to King Ahaz of Judah in today’s first reading. The prophet said: “the Lord Himself will give you a sign” (Isaiah 7:14). While the Lord has chosen all of us to be signs to our generation, we will focus on religious Sisters as signs of salvation.
OUTLINE
- What is a sign?
- The Blessed Virgin Mary as the Perfect Sign of Salvation
- Consecrated Women as Signs of Salvation
1.0 WHAT IS A SIGN?
A sign points to a reality beyond itself. For instance, a signboard may point to another reality (e.g., a church, school, etc.). Different signs have various meanings. Here are a few of them. A sign could:
- Indicate affection, e.g., the giving of flowers
- Give hope, e.g., the gathering of clouds gives hope for a rainfall
- Give joy, e.g., rainfall brings joy to farmers in expectation of a good harvest
- Give direction to people, e.g., the information and arrow on a signboard
- Indicate approval or appreciation, e.g., a thumbs up
2.0 THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AS THE PERFECT SIGN OF SALVATION
A background to today’s first reading is that when the prophet Isaiah spoke with King Ahaz his nation (Judah) was being attacked by the kings of Israel and Syria. In distress and confused by the advice his elders were giving him, King Ahaz refused to ask for a sign which would assure him that the Lord God Himself would save him and his nation.
Hence, the prophet Isaiah to the king: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:13-14).
While this sign was fulfilled in the time of King Ahaz and Judah was saved from the attacks of Israel and Syria, it was not until the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and gave birth to Jesus, the true Emmanuel (God-with-us), that the sign of our salvation was perfectly fulfilled (cf. Matt. 1:18-23 & Luke 1:26-38; gospel reading).
Sign of God’s love: It was out of love that God sent His Son into the world to save us (cf. John 3:16). By conceiving and giving birth to the Son of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary has become the sign of God’s love for all humanity (cf. Gal. 4:4-5).
Sign of hope: Jesus Christ is the hope of the world (cf. 1 Tim. 1:1). Since He came into the world through Mother Mary, she has become the sign of our hope of salvation.
Sign of joy: Jesus is the joy of the world. Thus, at His birth, the angel proclaimed to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Hence, Mother Mary has become the sign of the joy which God gives to the world.
Sign of God’s guidance: Jesus, whose wisdom far surpasses that of King Solomon (cf. Luke 11:31), is our guide to salvation through His life and teachings, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit whom He promised (cf. John 16:12-13). Hence, His Mother is the sign of God’s guidance.
Sign of God’s approval: Jesus is the Father’s approval to the world. Thus, the Father’s voice at Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration would declare: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17) and “This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him” (Matt. 17:5). Hence, Mother Mary who did not only give birth to Jesus but also perfectly listened to and kept God’s Word (cf. Luke 11:27-28), is the perfect sign of God’s approval.
3.0 CONSECRATED WOMEN AS SIGNS OF SALVATION
In every age, God chooses or calls some women to consecrate themselves, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, as signs of salvation to their communities and the world as a whole. It is in the vein that today we congratulate Sr. Anastasia and Sr. Celestine for responding to God’s call to consecrate themselves and persevering for 25 good years.
Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, consecrated women should be virgins who are signs of God’s love, hope, joy, guidance, approval, etc.
Signs of God’s love: Dear Sisters, the sacrifice you have made to give up marriage and consecrate your love to Jesus, as well as your kindness to others, especially the poor, should make you signs of God’s love. So, are people reminded of or drawn to God’s love because of you? Or is the contrary true of you?
Signs of hope: Dear Sisters, do you inspire hope in others by your lifestyle, teaching, counseling, charity, etc.? Do you inspire religious vocations in others? Or have you become a sign of despair and discouragement to others?
Signs of joy: Dear Sisters, do you by your lifestyle, smiles, devotion, kindness, etc., bring the joy of the Lord to others? Or the contrary is true of you?
Signs of God’s guidance: Dear Sisters, are you, through your words and deeds, drawing people to follow the path of salvation or not?
Signs of God’s approval: Dear Sisters, are you listening to and obeying Jesus, who is God’s approval to the world? Are you obedient to the voice of Jesus through your legitimate superiors? Or are succumbing to the voices of your own illicit emotions and worldly ambitions?
CONCLUSION
Beloved, we have been reflecting on the theme, “the Lord Himself will give you a sign”. While the Lord has chosen all of us to be signs for our generation, we have in the context of today’s celebration, focused on religious Sisters as signs of salvation. We have noted that Mother Mary is the perfect sign of salvation, the true model for consecrated women and, indeed, all Christians.
Therefore, dear Silver Jubilarians, Sr. Anastasia and Sr. Celestine, it is our prayer that, like Mother Mary, God will grant you the graces to be more effective signs of salvation to our generation. Finally, may you live to celebrate your golden jubilee in good health and with joyful hearts full of gratitude to the Lord! Amen!
