II SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PRECURSOR OF THE SAVIOR
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
For this second Sunday of Advent the figure is John the Baptist. We can ask ourselves: Who is John the Baptist and what is the significance of his message for our lives? The Gospel of Luke says that Mary, who conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit, visited her cousin Elizabeth. John was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb of his mother –by Jesus Christ- (Lk. 1: 15, 41). The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John the Baptist and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was moved by the fire of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he became closer to God. For John, the time in the desert was a time when he went through many tests and was strengthened and filled with the Word of God in preparation for his ministry. The clothes of the Baptist were reminiscent of the clothing of the prophet Elijah, described in the second book of Kings: ‘“He wore a hairy garment with a leather belt around his waist.” “It is Elijah the Tishbite!” he exclaimed” (2 Kings 1, 8).
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,” so begins the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. I love the English translation because it uses the words “comforted, comforted my people”. In Spanish it uses “console, console”. When we use the word comfort we should understand that it’s not the modern idea of comfort: of being comfortable and stable. Rather we should recognize that the virtues of freedom and peace are greater, giving hope for a better life. And that’s why it makes sense to use the word comfort. Because God has seen the suffering and hardship that the people of Israel have experienced. God asks us not to condemn each other, but rather to bring people to the Savior. It is easy to talk of the suffering that awaits sinners, like many preachers do. But presenting fear as a reason to change is not the purpose of Christmas.
Christmas, the true Christmas, is not about the gifts and handouts we can give to the needy. Christmas is the hope that a great Savior is coming: the God who spares nothing and was incarnate because he wants to show true love. To comfort the people, as Saint John the Baptist did, is to bring people to the one who comes to redeem us. Therefore, the prophet is not announcing misfortunes, but is denouncing what is against the kingdom of God and announcing a Savior. John the Baptist became the forerunner of the coming Messiah: ‘and this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”’ (Mk 1: 7-8)
Saint Peter invites us: “But according to his promise, we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, come beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.” (2 Peter 3: 13-14)
The Second Week of Advent invites to conversion, not out of fear of punishment rather out of love for the Savior who offered himself up for us. It is true that because of sin we lose all possibility of salvation, but by the goodness and mercy of God we are assured the fullness of eternal life. God is the one who comforts his people with the presence of the one who gives us true freedom and peace. May we prepare ourselves to receive him with all our love. Amen.