Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word

2nd Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2013

The precursor of the Lord is come. Jesus himself says of him: Among those born of women, there has risen no-one greater than John the Baptist.

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,

a scion thrusts from his roots:

on him the spirit of the Lord rests,

a spirit of wisdom and insight,

a spirit of counsel and power,

a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)

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.

The wolf lives with the lamb,

the panther lies down with the kid,

calf and lion feed together,

with a little boy to lead them.

The cow and the bear make friends,

their young lie down together.

The lion eats straw like the ox.

The infant plays over the cobra’s hole;

into the viper’s lair

the young child puts his hand.

They do no hurt, no harm,

on all my holy mountain,

for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord

as the waters swell the sea.

That day, the root of Jesse

shall stand as a signal to the peoples.

It will be sought out by the nations

and its home will be glorious.

Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2,7-8,12-13,17

Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9

Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of how people who did not give up were helped by God. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  It can only be to God’s glory, then, for you to treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you. The reason Christ became the servant of circumcised Jews was not only so that God could faithfully carry out the promises made to the patriarchs, it was also to get the pagans to give glory to God for his mercy, as scripture says in one place: For this I shall praise you among the pagans and sing to your name.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said:

A voice cries in the wilderness:

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight.

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father,” because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’

Reflection

By Theresa Ballo

The second Sunday of Advent is about the novel introduction of John the Baptist to Jesus’ coming. Yearly, as we prepare ourselves for Christmas we cannot get away hearing John’s prophetic role in preparing us to meet Jesus. John is so blunt in saying that he is not the main protagonist of the story. As some people say, we can’t hear Jesus until we first hear John.

It’s all in the news that shopping malls especially Divisoria are now jam packed with people buying gifts and new items or food for Christmas. As we make outer preparations to this BIG day, the Gospel for today reinforces us to make inner preparations as well. As we practice a sense of giving to others, why not start giving ourselves to Jesus? What is the best way to do this? By being lowly, by admitting that we made a mistake and that we lured ourselves to sin.

“Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”, this is John the Baptist's battle cry. Repentance is thinking less of ourselves, acting responsibly with wrong actions and turning toward God. It permits all one’s motives and actions to flow from obedience. Going to confession is not just a simple rite of receiving grace from the Father. More so, it is not just receiving punishment for our wrongdoing.

For me, repentance includes two honorable and courageous acts. First is the recognition of sin, admitting that I did something offensive to God. Second, is doing a new way of acting, a change in behavior. The absence of the other makes it unsuccessful therefore both have to be present. Yet, the cost of repentance is the saving grace of Jesus that liberates us from the guilt and pain sin has caused us.

When sorry seems to be the hardest word to say, what must we do then? I am not an expert with this, but since I’m the writer of this article, I’ll share mine. Usually, the feeling of remorse would set in first yet our mind is so powerful that it creates stories to justify our actions. Most often a wrong act would affect anyone around us and we will receive a reaction either verbal or non-verbal. When this happens, we can hear answer in the absence of sounds. Be silent. Recall our actions. Go back to our motives before the action then stay at the present moment. How do I feel? Up to what extent can I hold on to this feeling? In the end, we have a choice to repent or be miserable.

In repentance, we expose a wound so it can heal faster. It is not about the fear of punishment but rather a belief that God is so loving and has been so kind that we must change.

Prayer

Jesus, in Your glory and humility, give us the grace to come before You. Empty our selfish motives and acts so You can fill us with Your love and mercy. May every moment of our doing create goodness for an eternity in Your Kingdom.  Amen.