Today on the second Sunday of Advent we heard in the Gospel about the preaching of John the Baptist on repentance. John baptised those who came to him and followed his message. It was a baptism of repentance with water for the forgiveness of sins. Although Jesus did not need such a baptism he came to John and was baptised by John. Mary the mother of Jesus had visited Elisabeth the mother of John the Baptist during their pregnancy period. The infancy narrative in the Gospel of Luke gives a picture of it.
The family relationship of John the Baptist and Jesus was known for John and Jesus. Now Jesus and John start their ministry in which John acts as the one who prepares the way for Jesus as the forerunner of the Messiah.
John the Baptist quoted for the book of Prophet Isiah chapter 40:3-5. The text of the Prophet Isiah difines the mission of John the Baptist. “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
These words of the prophet Isiah is fulfilled in John the Baptist. It has been confirmed in Malachi 3:1; Mathew 3:3 and John 1:23.
This text is about the messenger of the Lord. The messenger informs about the Lord and makes preparations for his coming. Every obstacle in the way must be removed. The Lord is considered as the king who will be coming in glory.
Jesus is the coming Messiah, the king. But he is born not in a palace, but in a manger. He is king of a different type. Jesus is the king of the human hearts. He is a good shepherd.
The text on John the Baptist from the gospel of Luke in the advent season reminds us about the need of a spiritual preparation during advent. Pope Francis writes about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sacred Heart of God in his encyclical “Dilexit nos”. According to him the world today has lost its heart. The problems today is that the heart is absend everywhere. The heart is the symbol of love, mercy, compassion and commitment. Pope Francis says that the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is relevant, needed and helpful for the Christians to be happy, peaceful, successful and fulfilled.
Let us prepare our hearts to receive the Lord. He comes with a strong hand. Conversion of the heart and communion with God and the human strengthen us to be fulfilled and to be worthy to receive the Lord and to be with the Lord. God bless you!
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS