Homily - 2nd Sunday Advent - John the Baptist - Rock Star

(Inspired by Fr. J. Speekman)

Today, we are introduced to a rock star - John the Baptist; a privileged young man, the son a priest of God. He has a successful family business, he’s charismatic, he’s entertaining, he had it all; but, he left it to grow his hair long, dress like a "wild man", and live off the land. He became a rebel that quotes the great prophets and people come by the hundreds to hear him preach.

He is the herald of the Messiah, the precursor of the Advent. His many disciples follow his every word; He had a very promising disciple in young man from Nazareth named Jesus.

John the Baptist was one of the first to celebrate advent, when he jumped in his mother’s womb. Even as an unborn child, he was ready for the coming of the Lord.

That’s what advent is all about, we ask ourselves: “Will I be ready when he comes?”

We live for that future. Tomorrow I’m going to change. Next week, I’ll start studying the bible and the catechism. I'm making a New Year's resolution to go to confession more. Before I die, I start praying the Rosary daily.

That’s not a good question. What’s better is, “Am I ready NOW? – Christ comes to us NOW!!

We live for that future advent; but, that’s not what we should be doing. We all exist NOW, in the immediate time. NOW, the moment wedged between past and future. It is where we live our lives.  When the Lord returns, it will be precisely and only in the present moment.  He will not find us anywhere else.

This is the message of Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Peter.

We find John the Baptist in the waters of the river Jordan. On the banks stand God’s people, the Israelites. John calls them to repent for the forgiveness of their sins:  Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

Some people, hear his words; hear God speak to their hearts and walk into the water to John. They are baptized and confess their sins.

John called ALL to repent; but only some did. Some stayed on the banks and said to themselves, “What’s all this talk about sin?”

• Some said – What sin? I have no sin!
• Some said  - I have too many sins! My sins are too great. God could never forgive me.
• Some said  - I only have little sins! They’re not worth worrying about.

Two thousand years later, the call to repent is still being heard. But instead of John, the message is given by priests, deacons, and God’s ministers. They call people to repent: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

Now instead of hundreds on the banks of the river, billions of people all over the world hear the call to repent.

Some begin to move. Prostitutes and tax collectors, rich and poor, come forward, confess their sins and are forgiven.

ALL are called to repent. But, some remain standing on the bank and say, “What’s all this talk about sin?”

• Some say –What sin? I have no sin.
• Some say - I have too many sins. My sins are too great. God will never forgive me.
• Some say - I only have little sins. They’re not worth worrying about.

We Catholics say the same things in a different way. “I don’t need to confess my sins to a priest!” It' s like throwing the sacrament of Reconciliation back into the face of Jesus.

The message to repent does not stop. And all of our hearts hear that call, because:

• Hearts are ready to listen; but our heads talk us out of it.
• Hearts don’t make excuses; but inside our minds we can find plenty.
• Hearts see the need, but our minds tell us we have none.

Peter writes:  

"…  people will be scornful, living according to their own desire, saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation.”  ...The Lord is not slow to carry out his promises, as others might be called slow; but he is patient with you,, wanting nobody to be lost …The Day of the Lord will come like a thief … you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come… What we are waiting for is what he promised…"

Are we ready for Advent? Are we ready for Christ who comes to us NOW. We don’t know when He will come. No matter when the promise of Christ’s return is fulfilled; He will find us as we are in our immediate moment. Hopefully, we are not standing on the bank.

Are we preparing the way for the Lord in our lives?