Every year on the Second Sunday of Advent the Church calls our attention to John the Baptist, the great forerunner of the Lord. I always  find it to be a fruitful opportunity for meditation, as it pulls us away from some of the more commercialized scriptures which we traditionally associate  with Christmas. We’ll get to the manger and the  birth of the Prince of Peace soon enough, but reflecting on a man going out into the desert to wear a loincloth, eat bugs, and yell at people to repent always comes first. That’s the real Advent spirit for you.

This year I was particularly struck by John stripping away the principal source of confidence for the Pharisees and Sadducees. They are a group of religious leaders who have, in many ways, put the cart before the horse and have lost sight of the age-old call to turn away from false gods and worship their         Creator who is calling them into relationship with Himself. While their missteps or inaction should probably prick their consciences, they are apparently consoled by the fact that they are children of Abraham, and in their minds that covers a multitude of sins.
 
But John’s words to them are not along the  lines of “Don’t worry about oppressing the people or tying up loads that you won’t lift a  finger to help with, since you are, after all, descendants of Abraham.” He tells them, point blank, that it isn’t enough. “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.” In other words, shape up, or reap the bitter fruits of your pro forma Faith.

What would the same warning be to us in the present age? I suspect that many today could  rationalize their inactive Faith by saying that, at the end of the day, we try to be good people. But just as John the Baptist tries to shake them out of complacency by urging repentance, so he does today. Striving to be a good person is a noble goal, but we must always remember that we are saved not because we are good, but because we are His.
 
This Advent season, I invite all of you to reflect on this question of repentance in your own life. Do not rely solely on your own skills and efforts to become a “better person,” whatever that might mean. Instead, pray about what is   a true obstacle to  the relationship that God wants to have with you, and repent of it.  Repent of it in prayer, and bring it to the Lord in confession. As much confidence as we are tempted to have in ourselves and our efforts, we should have infinitely more trust in the merciful love of Our Savior who comes to  meet us in the scriptures, in prayer, and in the Sacraments.

Prayers always,
Fr. McC