John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Reflection for Second Sunday of Advent
Advent is a time of preparation: we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus at His birth in Bethlehem so long ago, and we are called to prepare ourselves for His anticipated second coming at the end of time.
In the Gospel, we hear that John the Baptist was sent to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus: “It was of him [John the Baptist] that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.”
How did John prepare the people for Jesus’ coming? He told the people: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” And John baptized them in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. Doing so, John was straightening the paths between Jesus and the people.
Many wondered whether John was the promised Messiah, but John made it clear that he was not: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
We also hear that, as Jesus would do later, John challenged the Sadducees and the Pharisees: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.”
John also challenges the common Jewish belief that salvation was a birthright: “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones…. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
When I reflect on these words, I hear John preparing me for Jesus’ second coming. An important part of my faith journey is being baptized into the Catholic Church and going to Mass on Sundays, but that is not enough to ensure my salvation. My life must produce good fruit so I will not be thrown into the fire of hell at the final judgement!
What good fruit am I called to produce? As St. Paul tells us, there is a unique answer for each of us: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” (1 COR 12:4-6) I need to follow where Jesus, leads me.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of John the Baptist. He not only prepared the people 2000 years ago for the coming of Jesus into their lives, but his words also prepare us for the coming of Jesus into our lives today, and for His return at the end of time. Come, Holy Spirit – set our hearts on fire for God! Help us to discern your gifts and to use those gifts to bear good fruit in our lives!! Amen.
More Reflections For The 2nd Week Of Advent
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