Homily (Reflection) for the Second Sunday
of Advent, (B) (10th December, 2017) on the Gospel
Is 40:1-5.9-11;
Ps 84:9-14 (R. v.8);2Pt 3:8-14;
Mk 1:1-8.
Topic:
Prepare for the Lord, cf. Mk 1:3.
In our homily for the first Sunday
of Advent (B), we considered the meaning of Advent and also reflected on the
life of Christians as the life of Advent. John the Baptist, the forerunner of
Jesus Christ in today’s gospel calls for the preparation for the Lord’s coming.
Although many have seen a good number of Advent seasons, I would like us to
reflect on the preparation for Christ’s coming. This is to avoid the danger of allowing
this season pass without any impact on individual lives.
John in today’s gospel began his ministry by proclaiming “…
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk.1:4) as prophesied by Isaiah, cf. Is 40:3. This clarion call brought “people from the whole Judean
countryside and all the people of Jerusalem” (Mk 1:5).
We recall that Advent is a time of preparation both for the
anniversary of Christ’s first coming and also for his second coming. We read
from the gospel:
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people
from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going
out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins
(Mk 1:4-5).
Although we are called to prepare for the Lord, who do we
actually prepare for during the season of Advent – ourselves or the Lord? It is
very easy for one to say that he/she is preparing for the Lord but do we really
prepare for the Lord? For instance, the preparation for Christmas witnesses
more activities in so many areas like trying to have a better place to live in,
good cars to drive around with, better clothes, shoes, jewelleries, assorted
makeup amongst others to put on, good hairstyles, money to spend, and so many
other things that we struggle to accomplish before Christmas especially during
Advent season. These externalities are not bad in themselves but John the
Baptist’s proclamation did not lead people sought for them rather it made
people sought for the spiritual (real and profitable) things – baptism and
confession of sins.
Considering the reaction of the people who heard the
proclamation of John the Baptist in preparation for the first coming of Jesus
Christ, as we prepare for both the anniversary of Jesus’ first coming and also
await his second coming, do we consider baptism and confession and other
sacraments important? Struggling to complete building projects, buy new cars,
articles of clothing, and so on, for what use will all these be for Jesus? As
we have noted, these things are not bad in themselves but they can be snares
against preparing for the Lord.
At His first coming, Christ was born in a manger, cf. Lk 2:12. But now he desires to be born
in our lives. Hence He said: “...If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and
my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (Jn 14:23). Again in the book of
Revelation we read: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with
me” (Rev 3:20). And in Acts of the
Apostles we also read: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being
Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man” (Acts 17:24). And again in Saint Paul’s
first letter to the Corinthians we also read: “... The body is ... for the
Lord, and the Lord for the body” (1Cor
6:13). So the preparation for the Lord ought to be done in our lives. We do
this by repenting because answering Christian names is not enough to say that
we have repented. This conversion is very important. Hence Jesus also began his
public ministry by calling us to repentance, cf. Mk 1:15.
We go back to God by making good confession of our sins. However,
making a good confession reminds me of the story of a man who while confessing
his sins first said he stole two times but later changed it to five times. When
the priest asked the man how many times he actually stole, the man said that he
has stolen twice since his last confession and had also planned to steal three
more times in near future. Hence the number five was to cover both the ones he
has stolen and the ones he had also planned to steal. For one to make a good
confession of sins he or she must be sincere otherwise, he or she makes mockery
of the sacrament thereby going back worse than he/she was. And again, there
must be either perfect or imperfect contrition.
Dear friends in the Lord, prepare for the Lord and not for
yourself by looking at your life. Just as we are made-up of body and soul
(spirit), preparation for Christmas must also be two sided – bodily (external)
as well as spiritual (internal) but greater attention must be paid to the
spiritual preparation. His first coming was at the manger, now he intends to be
born in our hearts. To enjoy the fullness of the Christmas, we must take the
two sides of it serious. This will lead us to benefit from the Christmas as we
should – materially and spiritually.
Bible Reading: Matt 4:12-17; 7:21-29; Acts
2:37-42; Rev. 2:5.
Thought for today: Do you
know that an important visitor is patiently waiting at the door of your soul?
Let
us pray: Lord, help
us to prepare well for your coming. May this feast bring peace and joy of mind
and body to our lives and among ourselves. We ask this through Christ our Lord –
Amen.
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