Matthew 3, 1-12:
Sunday, December 4th, 2022 (2nd T A A A)
“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea preaching: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand… I baptize you with water so that you may be converted, but he who comes after me… will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’.
I don’t think I would be far wrong in saying that many of us have some pretty hypocritical attitudes. It is easier for us to talk, to give advice, to point fingers, but it is more difficult for us to put into practice the things we ask of others. And we can even justify ourselves.
As we enter Advent, we hear the voice of John the Baptist calling us to conversion, especially of those attitudes (everyone knows their own if they are honest with themselves). And he announces the coming of the one who will baptise us with the Holy Spirit and fire. With his help we will bring the coming of the Kingdom of God closer. The Kingdom announced by the prophets as a life situation in which justice and peace, forgiveness and fellowship will be the signs.
May we, with the sincerity of our hearts, the commitment of our lives and with hope in the One who comes to show us the way, go from being “chaff for the fire to wheat for the barn”, as the Baptist said.
Juan Ramón Gómez Pascual, cmf
How do you announce the coming of the Kingdom of God?
