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Homily for the second Sunday
of Advent - Year A - Mt. 3:1-12
by
Canon Dr. Daniel Meynen
" In those days came John
the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, «Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.» For this is he who was spoken
of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, «The voice of one crying
in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.» Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather
girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then
went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the
Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing
their sins.
" But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
«You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to
yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is
able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the
axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does
not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you
with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier
than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand,
and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the
granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.» "
Homily:
" In those days came John
the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, «Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.» For this is he who was spoken
of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, «The voice of one crying
in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.» (Is. 40:3) "
For a week, we have been
preparing ourselves for the feast of Christmas. Soon, we will remember
the birth of Jesus, as we await his Return at the end of time. Now
Saint Matthew, whose gospel we read this year, speaks to us more of the
Return of the Lord than of his birth. This is to be expected. Indeed,
why be focused on the birth of Christ? If it were necessary for Christ
to be born once again, this would mean that we would still be waiting
for the Redemption and that we would not be already resurrected, at
least in hope, with Christ...
Jesus has already been
born, and we await his Return! This is already the attitude of John the
Baptist. For the Precursor of Christ did not announce the birth of
Jesus, but rather his coming among men: he revealed to Israel He who
was already there! John the Baptist is the model of the Church who
reveals to the entire world the presence of He who is already there,
among men, through and in the Church. John the Baptist announces to all
Israel that the Messiah is there, in his people, just as the Church
announces to the entire world the presence of the Mystery she bears
within her, thanks to the Holy Spirit!
" But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
«You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to
yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is
able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the
axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does
not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.» "
Everyone must be
resurrected! Everyone must change! The old man must disappear and be
replaced by the new Man! "Repent," says John the Baptist. "Prepare the
way of the Lord, make his paths straight," cried Isaiah. For the true
way, which is Christ, must finally appear in the light of day, in order
to provide free access to the Father! "I tell you," says John the
Baptist, "God is able from these stones to raise up children to
Abraham." For these inanimate stones are called to become "living
stones" (1 Peter 2:5)! "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the
trees," for the figure and the symbol must give way to the perfect
reality: the tree, which is the sign of men (cf. Mk. 8:22-26 - see also
the homily for the 31st Sunday, year 2004), must be cut and separated
from its roots, which are those of sin, in order for it to find new
life in the hands of the carpenter of Nazareth (cf. Mk. 6:3)!
" «I baptize you with
water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I,
whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire.» "
We have already been
baptized in water. Now we await our baptism in the Spirit and fire.
Now, this fire is already there, with the Spirit, ever since the day of
Pentecost. And we have received it on the day of our confirmation in
the faith. This fire is that of the Light, the light that all of us are
called to be: "You are the light of the world!" (Mt. 5:14) We are fire
and light in the Spirit! We must bring light to the world, we must be
baptized in light and in fire, we must bear witness to our faith,
before the eyes of all, until we are baptized in the Blood of Christ!
May the Most Holy Mother of
God, who is the powerful Virgin of the Nativity, help us to prepare
ourselves well for the coming of her Son into our everyday life!
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