2nd Sunday of Advent (A)

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

Mt 3:1-12

If there is one person who should be in the spotlight during the Advent season, it is John the Baptist. During his lifetime, he prepared the people of Israel for Jesus. The prophet Isaiah describes him as “A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas. He can teach us how to welcome Christ on Christmas. And this is what we shall learn today.

According to the Gospel, John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. Why did St. Matthew mention this detail? I am sure it was not because he wanted to inform us about what was in fashion in those days. You see, the Jews believed that Elijah would be the one to herald or to announce the coming of the Messiah. If you read the OT (Old Testament), you will discover that Elijah wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. What St. Matthew wants to tell us is that John the Baptist is the Elijah who is to announce the coming of the Messiah.

If you see St. John the Baptist wearing clothes made of camel’s hair and further, if you see him eat only locusts and wild honey, you would say that he is an austere man. Austere people are credible because your first impression is of a holy man. They strike you as sincere. You don’t get the impression that they are after money or power. And that is why they are credible. Take Gandhi, for example. He is called Mahatma. Mahatma means great soul. He wore a white loincloth which he himself wove. He comes across as a holy man, as an austere man. What you see is what you get. He is sincere. That makes him credible. And that is why he was able to rally all of India to use non-violence in order to force the British to grant independence.

Sincere comes from two Latin words, ‘sine’ and ‘cera’. ‘Sine’ means without and ‘cera’ mean wax. Sincere means without wax. What does this mean? In Greek plays actors wear masks made of wax. The masks tell the audience about the character the actor is portraying. In so doing, the masks hide from the public who the real person is. And so when a person is sincere, he doesn’t wear any mask. What you see is what you get.

If we want to respond positively to the invitation of John the Baptist to repent, then we have to take off our masks so that we can see who we truly are. For it is only when we see the ‘real me’ that we can know what we need to repent of and where we need to change.

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The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to the welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - finvoc@yahoo.com - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.