Gospel Reflection Dec 7 – Fr. Black
Sunday, December 7
Second Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3: 1-12
Gospel:
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.”
Gospel Reflection:
“I am baptizing you with water, for repentance….He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”. Here, John the Baptist makes an important distinction as part of his role in preparing the way for the Lord. While repentance is important for our spiritual life, we must go further. Once we repent, once we change direction in our lives, we have to make a move. We must, as John challenges the Pharisees and Saducees, produce good fruit as evidence of our repentance. Our repentance must be evident by our lives. We must move away from our sin, move away from darkness. We do this by moving closer to the Lord. It is His power that will make real change in our lives and in the lives of those with whom we have contact. May this Advent season allow us to anticipate the Lord’s coming and allow Him to change our lives.
Father Black