CALLED TO PRODUCE FRUITS OF REPENTANCE

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Matthew 3:1-12

In this Sunday’s readings, we are presented with two major figures of Advent: Isaiah and John the Baptist. Both of them were prophets; although different, both of them are announcers of a message of hope. 

Isaiah is the prophet of God’s promise, a promise of salvation that fills us with hope, but like John he denounced the people’s behaviour, calling them to repentance.

Isaiah announces that the Messiah will come with justice and peace, protecting and defending the poor and the oppressed:

“He does not judge by appearances,

he gives no verdict on hearsay,

but judges the wretched with integrity,

and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land.

His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless,

his sentences bring death to the wicked.

Integrity is the loincloth round his waist,

faithfulness the belt about his hips.” (Is 11:3-5)

He is full of integrity and faithfulness, and his word is the word of truth with which he strikes the ruthless and the oppressive. This promise and the announcement of its fulfilment puts in check the leaders of this world who are ready to use lies and all kinds of crooked ways to keep and impose their power. Our society, the society which we live in, is a society where the true values have been inverted and turned upside down. That’s why there is need of prophets like Isaiah and John the Baptist to denounce the false values that we cherish and to call us to conversion.

John appeared as a voice, calling out to people for them to repent and to come back to God. Indeed, people went to John and “confessed their sins” (Mt 3:6). Like them, we must recognise our sinfulness and entrust ourselves to God’s mercy. Even though John’s call to repentance was addressed to everybody, he was surprised when he saw the Pharisees and the Sadducees coming to him as well, and he sounded the warning: beware of your own assurances; do not put your confidence on being the children of Abraham, and doing nothing to show that you are faithful like Abraham.

By his presence, his attitudes and his words, John the Baptist denounces and challenges us. His word is not comfortable, but unsettling; it is a confrontational word, which points out very clearly our evil deeds and our failures. We need to produce fruits of repentance, or we are deluding ourselves. We cannot be complacent, reassuring ourselves that our salvation is guaranteed, in spite of refusing to repent and to convert.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul points out the type of behaviour that shows repentance. 

• We must be guided by the example of those who came before us and who struggled not to give up, but to remain faithful.
• The Scriptures present us with those examples and they were written to teach us about hope, because we are strengthened by hope.
• And we must follow Jesus Christ, whose example supersedes all others.
• Guided by Christ, we learn how to be tolerant with each other.
• We must become united in mind and voice, in this way giving glory to the Father.
• We must “treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you”. (Ro 15:4-9)
• And we must recognise that God’s mercy is for all, Jews and pagans.

As we enter the second week of Advent, let’s listen to John’s appeal and make an effort to change our ways and prepare a path for the Lord, so that we may welcome him in our lives.