The Repentance Preached by John

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 3:1-6.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

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Reflection

The second Sunday of Advent introduces to us the precursor of the Redeemer, one who prepares the way of the Lord, and his message that paves the Lord's way. John the son of Zechariah is called the Baptist because of the baptism of repentance that he preached. He knows the Lord is coming and He is tasked to prepare for it.

Repentance is the preparation required from those who wait for the Lord. It is the straightening of what was skewered by sin. Every valley of ignorance will be filled and every mountain of pride be laid low. All flesh will see the salvation of God because God Himself would make Himself known to all men. Everyone will know God.

In the same way that the Gospel situates John's preaching during the temporal reigns of Tiberius, Pilate, Herod, Philip and Lysanias, we are also challenged to repent in our concrete life situations. Who and what things still rule over us? What are our favorite sins that we allow to enslave us? Repentance is not just lip service to change. It is a concrete change, an about-face from all sin. Advent invites us to repent and so open and free ourselves to the knowledge that is to come with Christ.

Vigilance at the Coming

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 21:25-28, 34-36.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Reflection

Our redemption is at hand. The Advent season picks up from the cues of the previous liturgical year and presents the same expectations. Something new is coming our way. There will be great changes and signs. The Gospel reading does not mean to scare us. Instead, it reminds us to be courageous and hopeful. For the shaking of all the powers of heaven is a reminder to every Christian that redemption is near.

We are waiting for our redemption. To be redeemed means to be ransomed from captivity. We are waiting for the coming of a Savior who will pay the ransom for us. The reading tells us that ransom is sure to come, that is why we need keep hope in our hearts. For the birth of this Savior is also the birth of our redemption.

Yet we are not to wait passively. We are challenged to prepare for His coming. For everyone will have to deal the moment of His coming. Everyone will have to stand before the Savior when He comes. Our very lives must be prepared for Him. The season of Advent is upon us. The Church calls us to be vigilant.

A Different Kind of King

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 18:33B-37.

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

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Reflection

There was a great confusion on the identity of Jesus even until hours before His death. Pontius Pilate could not comprehend why this religious leader should die for the title of "King". Jesus was fast becoming a nuisance to public order. The Jewish religious leaders appear to be irrational in their attacks against Him. What is more troublesome is Jesus' own peaceful acceptance of what is happening. Is Jesus a King or not?

We, like Pilate, often fall into the trap of boxing Jesus in our concept of King. Jesus is a different kind of King. He is not troubled by the evils of His trials. He knows everything is in place. Even when He looks powerless He is still in control. Knowing His true identity and purpose gives Him confidence that defies human courage.

He was not after political power. He was not after religious superiority. This King came calling for His sheep, sheep who are able to recognize His true identity. This is His Kingdom: the relationship between Shepherd and the sheep steeped in a love that subjugates all things.

The Church at the end of the liturgical calendar ties up together the end and the beginning of the year - that Christ is King because everything begins and ends with Him. His Kingdom is not spatial but existential, not only temporal but eternal. For anyone who accepts Christ as King, that is, who allows Jesus' love to shape His very being, allows this King to shape his very existence and share in His eternity.