Waiting Patiently For The Messiah

Homily 12 08 2013
2nd Sunday of Advent - A

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What would we do if John the Baptist or anyone else dressed in camel hair, not too clean, probably reeking of what he ate last, came running down the aisle shouting at us, REPENT!?

Would you ask why you should repent or of what you should repent? Would you simply discount him because of appearance or tone?

The surprise in John is that his presence here puts us in a great place to reflect on the Jesus infancy story in a most proper way.

The position of John in our path to Jesus ought to tell us two things.

First it focuses us in direction we must head so that we know how to meet and follow the grown up Jesus.

The baby Jesus is cute like all babies, no threat to any of us.

But the people of Israel did not wait 4000 years to stop and remain oohing and aahing over a baby, no matter how necessary it is that the Messiah enter the world as a baby.

For all those years they were expecting a Messiah to walk among them. And John, standing in our path and keeping us from being settled into peaceful time with a baby, is reminding us how we are going to get to that Messiah.

His presence tells us is that we must repent, we must be converted, we must come to believe Jesus through the message he, John, is preaching. John is preaching repentance and plunging into a new life with that repentance.

Jesus does not say no to John's message and plunging either. Jesus steps into that cold river as an example to all. -- WE are challenged also to really accept the plunge in the cold river, the call to repentance.

Jesus brings many to repentance.

John would have come and stood before each of us intently seeking our repentance, our conversion and entry into the water.

Do we believe that repentance is necessary for us?

Or is repentance for others, on the other side of the aisle?

John won't let us go. He stands there awaiting the chance to free us to follow Jesus. Do we look him in the eye, do we try to ignore him in the way you are really living your faith?

So many of us do what we are commanded in faith and work hard but he still says, Come into the water.

We're sinners, yes, but God comes to save us from those sins, if we repent and allow him to do so. This is the best way for us to prepare to receive him in the Eucharist.

He points us to a new exodus - from death to life through CONVERSION through the sacrament of Reconciliation. As Catholics, we're called to love all seven sacraments and take advantage of them, trusting that if the Lord instituted them, we need them. In the Sacrament of Confession, the Lord wants to heal you and help you repair the damage caused by sin to the path between you and Him. Please take him up on his offer next Monday evening in our communal celebrations of reconciliation.

It is a time for us to put an axe to the root of every tree in us which is not bearing the appropriate fruit. You don't need me to tell you what these might be.

He will tell you because he wants one day to be able to gather you into his barn.

jjl

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