During Advent we are remembering and preparing. We are
remembering the events that led to the birth of Jesus, and what the Word becoming flesh means for the
world and us. We are also preparing for Jesus’ return at the end of time. Jesus’
first coming into the world happened in secret, with only a few people
understanding what was happening, and even then Mary, Joseph and the Magi
really didn’t fully grasp what His birth meant. When Jesus returns in His
glory, there will be no doubts: everyone will understand that the King has returned
to judge the world. The second part of Advent, which leads into the celebration
of Christmas, is dedicated to a meditation on the Incarnation and Nativity of
the Savior. These first days focus us on Jesus’ Second Coming, and the need to
prepare spiritually for this event.
To help focus us on what we need to do to prepare for Jesus’
return, this week and next the Church offers us readings about John the
Baptist. John is the last of the Old Testament prophets, who came in the spirit
of Elijah, to prepare the way for Jesus’ public ministry. In the reading we
hear today from the Gospel according to Matthew, John warns the people sternly
that they need to repent if they are to enter the Kingdom of God, which is now
at hand. This means rejecting sin and turning back to God. But this repentance
can’t be just lip service: they need to perform good works that serve as signs
of their repentance. To repent means to turn away from our old way of life and
turning back to God.
It’s true that the Kingdom is here, and we enter into it
when we accept Christ and are baptized. But we are always in need of renewal.
This means that it’s important that we examine ourselves, not just to number
our sins and vices, but to also ask how we can be more faithful to our calling
to live the Kingdom now. If we aren’t living a life of prayer, participating in
the Sacraments, practicing the works of mercy as signs of our faith, then we
aren’t really ready for the Kingdom that is to come with Jesus’ return, because
we aren’t living the Kingdom here and now. That is what Advent is about. More
on what this means next week.
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