Introduction: On the one hand, salvation is God's doing and we cannot we earn His blessings. On the other hand, we must cooperate, because God cannot force his bounty upon us. Today's first reading from Isaiah emphasizes that, through his Son, God does all the saving. And yet, John the Baptist in today’s gospel summons us to play our essential part by leading lives of repentance, conversion and renewal, thus preparing the way for the Lord's second coming. We start this process by preparing for the celebration of Christmas, the Lord’s first coming. All the kings who succeeded David proved to be increasingly unfaithful, bringing eventual defeat and destruction upon the nation. Because of the bad example of their leaders, the Chosen People were wavering in their loyalty to Yahweh. Isaiah in the first reading tried to dispel their fears, and stir up hope among his people by God’s promise of a new Davidic King (a son of Jesse) who would establish peace and a glorious kingdom of justice on earth. His kingdom would be a return to the time of peace before sin entered the world. In the second reading Paul was praying for the Jewish Christians of Rome and instructing them to draw endurance and encouragement from the Old Testament books. They were to live in harmony with Gentile Christians accepting them as equals and bothers and sisters while they waited for the second coming of Jesus. In today’s gospel, John the Baptizer, warned the Pharisees and Sadducees to give evidence that they meant to reform their lives so as to recognize and accept the promised Messiah. He challenged them to repentance, conversion and renewal. He told the common people who were filled with expectation that the Messiah was near, to act with justice and charity, letting their lives reflect the transformation that would occur when the Messiah would enter their lives. In the same way, as we prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas, John advises us to "prepare the way of the Lord."

Exegesis: A prophet on fire with a fiery message: While only two gospels mention the nativity, all four Gospels introduce Jesus with an account of John the Baptist's ministry (Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:1-22; John 1:6-9). Matthew put slightly greater emphasis on John's words than on his action of baptizing. He recorded a direct quote from John’s preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." There had been no prophet in Israel for four hundred years. But the people had no hesitation in accepting John as a prophet because he was like a burning torch summoning men to righteousness, a signpost to point men to God, and he had the authority of a man of God. He wore garments of coarse camel hair and a leather belt like the prophets that we read about in Zechariah 13:4 and 2 Kings 1:8. He ate what was available in the rocky desert -- wild honey and roasted grasshoppers – which was permissible according to Leviticus 11. The Jews expected Elijah to return prior to the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:5). John's clothing of camel's hair and leather belt (2 Kings 1:8)) identified him as the fulfillment of that prophecy, and Jesus Himself affirmed John’s role when he said, "I tell you that Elijah has already come (Mt. 17:12)."

Call to repentance: John's message was not soothing. It cut into the very hearts of men. John denounced evil wherever he found it. He accused Herod of living a loose moral life (14:4), addressed the Scribes and the Pharisees as "brood of vipers" and summoned people to righteousness. His message was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (v. 2), words which Jesus later used to begin his own preaching (4:17) and similar to those the disciples were to proclaim (10:7). John justified his call to repentance by announcing that the kingdom of heaven was near and that the way to prepare for that day was to repent. Literally the Greek word for repentance (metánoia) means, "to change one's mind and heart." Repentance involves turning around – facing in a new direction -- with a change of heart and a new commitment. Repentance is a daily experience that renews our baptism. “The repentant person comes before God saying, "I can't do it myself, God. Kill me and give me new life. You buried me in baptism. Bury me again today. Raise me to a new life." Repentance for us is not a one-time action, but must take place daily, because preparing for the Lord is a perpetual task.

John’s baptism as the expression of repentance: John’s baptism by water was only an external expression of repentance. What he insisted on was repentance that bore real fruit: a turning from worldly values combined with generosity and love. As a sign of true repentance, John urged the tax collectors to "stop collecting more than what is prescribed" and told the soldiers to “stop extortion and false accusation, and remain satisfied with their wages.” In short, John’s message was a call for radical conversion, a demand for self-denial, sacrifice and loving service to others. We may have to put an ax to resentments and biases that are rooted in our hearts. We may have to winnow our greed and overindulgence and we may have to burn the chaff of our impatience. Even though John’s preaching was characterized by scathing criticism, his call for reform was described in Luke’s gospel as "the good news," because, the arrival of the Messiah would initiate a new reign of forgiveness, healing and salvation.

John’s conditions for belonging to the kingdom of heaven. The coming kingdom was John’s main theme. While the Gentile convert Mark uses the word “kingdom of God”, Mathew follows the Jewish tradition of avoiding the use of God’s name by using the expression ‘kingdom of heaven.” The kingdom of God is a God-centered, God-controlled life. John wanted people to experience such a life. Everyone who wants to experience this “reign of God" needs to make a radical change in his or her life. That is the call for repentance. We cannot come under the sovereign rule of God without a change of attitude, a change of heart and a change of lifestyle. John not only denounced men for what they had done; he summoned them to what they ought to do. That is why Matthew emphasized the new life of proper fruit-bearing more than the forgiveness of sins. Bearing good fruit is not just doing good things, but also doing them for the right reason.

Message: 1) Prepare for Christ’s coming by allowing him to be reborn daily in our lives: Advent is the time for us to make this preparation by repenting of our sins, and renewing our lives through prayer, penance, and sharing our blessings with others. Let us remember the oft repeated words of Alexander Pope: ‘What does it profit me if Jesus is reborn in thousands of cribs all over the world and not reborn in my heart”? He means that Jesus must be reborn in our heart, during this season of Advent, and everyday of our lives, bringing us love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness and spirit of humble service.

2) A call for a change of life. John the Baptist, the stern and uncompromising preacher, challenges our superficial attempts at change, demanding that we take a deeper look. Obeying the commandments is a good start, but we must also examine our relationships with others. We must mend ruptures and frictions, face family responsibilities, work honestly, and treat employees justly. Start where you are, John says. Our domestic and social lives must be put in order. John's voice is sober and runs counter to the intoxicating voices around us today. He calls for rectitude and social consciousness. We must abandon our selfish thirst for consumption, and instead, be filled with the expectation of Jesus' coming. Therefore, following John's advice, let us celebrate the memory of this first advent, prepare for Jesus’ new advent in our lives, and wait for his second advent at the end of the world.

3) Prayerfully wait for the second advent of Jesus. John’s answer as to how the Jews should wait for the Messiah was: wait for the Lord with repentant hearts and reformed lives. We can start by praying from the heart. Let us remember that the Holy Mass is the most powerful of prayers because it transforms us into Eucharistic people, providing the living presence of Jesus in our hearts and his divine life in our souls. Conversion is through Jesus, whom we encounter mainly through the Holy Scripture and the sacraments. The Word and the sacraments are the principal means God uses to enliven men's souls. Daily reconciliation with God as we ask and receive His pardon for our daily sins and monthly sacramental confession make us strong and enable us to receive more grace in the Eucharist. Let us read the Bible, pray the rosary daily, and fast once a week all year-round, rather than just during Advent and Lent. After all, we sin all year-round, so let us fast also all year-round by controlling our senses. We could take some time before Mass to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and we should practice forgiving those who offend us. Finally, let us share our love with others as selfless and humble service. "Do small things but with great love". (Mother Teresa).