Readings:
Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Mt. 3:1-12
Here
Comes John the Baptist, ‘Gift of God’.
John
the Baptist welcomes us to the second Sunday of Advent each year. He came to
prepare the way for the Messiah. John preached in the desert. His food was
locust and wild honey. His appearance was austere, and his message was urgent,
demanding immediate action. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” People
went to him to be baptized in the Jordan River, acknowledging their sins. He
urged them to repent of their sins and flee from the coming wrath. He demanded
that they produce good fruit as evidence of their repentance. Without John,
there would be no Christmas. To enjoy Christmas to the fullest, we must be
confronted by the crazy prophet in the desert, with the message that we must
hear.
Taking John the Baptist seriously helps us
understand the first reading. Isaiah prophesied about a king who would embody
the qualities of a worthy leader.
He
will spring like “a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Jesse was the father of
King David, and by this time, the Kingship in Jerusalem was barely surviving,
as the word ‘stump’ suggests. A
leader must possess the following virtues: Wisdom and Understanding, essential
intellectual qualities for a judge or ruler. Counsel and might represent the
practical application of wisdom, including decisiveness in judgment and the
moral strength to act. Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord are necessary
religious characteristics; a ruler must be guided by knowledge of God and
adhere to His moral standards. “If the electorate of the nations
demanded from those seeking office intellectual power, moral integrity,
practical wisdom, and religious faith, we would be better governed.” (The
Interpreter’s Bible). When individuals with these qualities assume leadership
roles, the nation can expect equitable governance, as they will not judge by
appearances or hearsay but will act justly toward the helpless and fairly
toward the humble. They will hold the ruthless accountable with their verdicts
and deliver justice against the unjust. Justice will empower them, and they
will be bound by trustworthiness. This fruit of repentance is what John the
Baptist calls for. “The ideals of democracy can only be upheld through
character. Where democracy has failed, it is not due to constitutional
weaknesses or procedural faults, but rather moral deficiencies among both
governors and the governed.” (The
Interpreter’s Bible).
The outcome of proper judgment and leadership
aligned with God’s will, brought by the birth of the Messiah, will lead to
reconciliation, even in nature; ancient enmities between humanity and beasts
will be resolved. There will be peace, as stated: “There shall be no harm
or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with the
knowledge of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:9) and “Justice shall flourish
in his time and fullness of peace forever.” (Psalm 72:7).
Isaiah the prophet and John the Baptist both conveyed God’s message to His people, calling them to repentance and faith. Although their messages were challenging, some listened and acted upon them. Simply professing to be Christians is not enough; we must demonstrate our faith through our actions. By performing simple acts of love, we bear good fruit. St. James reminds us: “Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and can save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes away and promptly forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:21-25). May we be Christians in both word and deed. Amen!
Points
to ponder:
·
Are
you reading St. Luke’s Gospel? You should have read seven chapters by now. The
8th chapter is for tomorrow. If not, why not?
·
How
are you preparing for Christ’s coming this week?
· Confessions will be offered on Wednesdays, 9:30 to 12 noon, and on Monday, December 15th. Will you have your sins forgiven?
“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
