Prepare a way for the Lord
Two thousand years ago God’s only son, Jesus Christ, came into the world to save us. The Church gives us this four-week season of Advent to prepare ourselves for the most important event in human history.
Advent comes from the word Adventus meaning coming. Christ promised us that he would come again at the end of time. We do not know the time or day when he will come to judge the whole world, but we do know he will come, and one day will be the last.
We know too that our lives are finite. One day will be our last day on earth and Jesus will come for each of us. We need to be ready for both future comings for we do not know when they will happen.
There is also a third coming of Christ. The first coming was in the past. His second coming will be in the future. The third coming is now, in the present. Jesus who was born in the stable at Bethlehem is knocking at the door of your heart and asking for your permission to come into your heart and life and be your Lord and Saviour. It’s up to you to say “yes” to Him. This is depicted in the famous picture of Christ with a lantern knocking at the door. There is no doorknob on the outside. It is only on the inside. Only you can let Christ in.
In today’s gospel, we hear from John the Baptist. He is a wild and slightly eccentric figure who stands up to the religious authorities of the time. John is not the Messiah, but the prophet of the Messiah! He is the last and greatest of the prophets. John is the forerunner, the preparer. He is the appetizer not the main event. The Gospel account of John the Baptist during the season of Advent, helps us understand who Jesus is.
John delivers to the people a message of repentance and a message of hope. He tells them it doesn’t matter about their ancestry or lack of knowledge of scriptural schooling. What’s important is to do good works and produce fruit that will last. This did not go down well with the religious leaders.
John points to Jesus and says ,“the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” Why does he say that? Because John baptises only with water. Water is a symbol of inner repentance, saying sorry to God.
But the promised Messiah, Jesus, baptises with the fire of the Holy Spirit – with God himself.
Matthew White – Seminarian for the Wellington Archdiocese
