Homily (Reflection) for
the Second Sunday of Advent, (A) (4th December, 2016) on the Gospel
Is 11:1-10;
Ps 72:1-2.7-8.12-13.17.
(R. v.7);Rom 15:4-9;
Matt 3:1-12.
Topic: Repentance bears fruits.
The Jews had seen a good number of
prophets before the time of John the Baptist. So his appearance in the
wilderness could be seen by some as one of those things that take place and
therefore paid little or no attention to his message. In line with this,
hearing the word of God is so much common today that sometimes we do not pay
attention to the message. John was sent to the Jews just as many are sent to us
today. The question is what do we make of these?
In today’s gospel, John queried the Pharisees and Sadducees:
“…You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Sin
begets death unless the sinner repents. The Pharisees and Sadducees are the
leaders and people suppose to emulate them, cf. Jn 7:48. They suffered so much to convert people only to make them
candidates of hell, cf. Matt 23:15. Again,
they neglected the most important religious duties like “justice and mercy and
faith” to perform those that will attract people’s attention and praise, cf. Matt 23:23. And again, they were full
of extortion, rapacity and wickedness, cf. Lk
11:39; Matt 23:25. Jesus likened them to whitewashed tombs because although
they parade themselves as the best but they were full of evil, cf. Matt 23:27. They were not comfortable
seeing people going to God, may be they thought that the keys were in their
hands, Mk 2:16, Lk 15:2. They ought
to be avoided, Lk 12:1.
Truly, we are all called to true repentance because our
lives like that of the Pharisees and Sadducees are not good enough. True
repentance is not barren. Hence John went on: “Bear fruit worthy of repentance”.
Such fruits must be evident in our relationship with God and our brothers and
sisters. God expects fruits always, cf. Mk
11:13; Matt 21:19. It is not enough to parade oneself as a born again.
Repentance is central not just in John’s teaching but in
Jesus’ as well, cf. Mk 1:14-15. However,
despite the importance of repentance, no explanation was offered because their
original hearers knew what they were talking about. Repentance for the Jews
according to William Barclay in his work The daily study bible, 1, “was
central to all religious faith and to all relationship with God”. And for the
Rabbis, repentance brings healing upon the world, the great mediatorial bond
between God and man, cf. p.52. Repentance for them is the gateway back to God:
‘Who is like God a teacher of sinners
that they may repent?’ They asked Wisdom, ‘What shall be the punishment of the
sinner?’ Wisdom answered: ‘Misfortune pursues sinners’ (Proverbs 13:21). They asked Prophecy. It replied: ‘The soul that
sins shall die’ (Ezekiel 18: 4).
They asked the Law. It replied: ‘Let him bring a sacrifice’ (Leviticus 1: 4). They asked God, and he
replied: ‘Let him repent and obtain his atonement. My children, what do I ask
of you? Seek me and live.’ p.52. [cf. Am 5:4].
Repentance in Hebrew (Jewish) is teshubah from the noun shub
meaning to turn. Therefore, “Repentance is a turning away from evil and turning
towards God,” p. 52. In Greek, it is metanoia
which means a change of heart.
The Jews have nine conditions for true repentance; they are
based on Isaiah 1:16. “1. Wash
yourselves; 2. make yourselves clean; 3. remove the evil of your doings from
before my eyes, 4. cease to do evil, 5. learn to do good, 6. seek justice, 7. correct
oppression; 8. defend the fatherless, 9. plead for the widow.” p.54.
The question now is whether we still consider repentance
important. Sometimes our church or the group/s we belong to in the church or
even the position we occupy either in the church or in the society seem to be
more important to us than God Himself. The advice of John is still as important
today as ever: “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children
to Abraham”.
The period of Advent is a period of turning back to God from
the various directions that we have turned. We are called to repent from all
our evil ways. The people who came to John confessed their sins. Do you
remember the last time you made a good confession? As we repent, the teaching
of the rabbis that if one has something unclean in his or her hands, even if he
or she washes his or her hands in all the rivers in the world, they remain
dirty because the source of its dirtiness is still there is very much true. God
wants us to part with not just sin but also with whatever that leads us into
sin so that there will be enough space for the King of kings and Lord of lords
in our lives.
John the Baptist went on to warn, “...the ax is lying at the
root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire”. It is left for us to choose whether to bear
fruit or not. This is the right time.
Bible Reading: Ezek 33:10-20; Lk 13:6-9; Hos 14:
1-2; Jer 31: 18-20.
Thought for today: If you have repented, how fruitful are you;
if not, what holds you back?
Let us pray: God our Father, give
us the grace and courage to hearken to the voice of your Son you sent into the
world to call us to repentance – Amen.
Maranatha!
Come Lord Jesus!
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