SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 4, 2022

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mt 3:1-12

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

John the Baptist was a prophet, preacher and witness for God. He was called by the Spirit of God to spread the good news of the coming of the Messiah. He is an Advent figure. His simple style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. He spoke the truth and told people what needed to be said rather than trying to appease them, make them happy or even like him.

Jesus is about to arrive and no one seems to know except for Mary and Joseph. Isaiah prepared us for John the Baptist. "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

He is the old and the new, the Prophet of the Most High because he was to prepare the people for the Kingdom of God and teach them about their salvation. The main message was repent and change your life.

This Advent let us seek the face of God, remove all bad traits, increase our prayer time, and look inwardly to who we really are. God will change our ways with persevering prayer and He will work on our pride, anger, selfishness, capricious judgments and lack of faith.

Make this coming Christmas one that when we open the gift of Jesus in the manger, our souls will leap for joy just as John the Baptist leapt when in his mother's womb.

God Bless You