MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Second Sunday of Advent
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
TODAY is the second Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel today tells us St. John the Baptist who prepares the coming of Jesus Christ. He appears, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” He also prophesies that Jesus, the Messiah, would come and “baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire”. John the Baptist baptizes with water for repentance, but Jesus Christ who is coming after him is mightier than he.
St. John the Baptist inspires numerous conversions because of his powerful spiritual lifestyle. He has spent countless hours in prayer with God. His desert practice achieves a closer union with God. He helps people to repent by being baptized at Jordan river. By requesting his baptism they show their decision to let God in and purify their hearts, souls and lives.
Here, John the Baptist introduces Jesus Christ as the symbol of God’s love. In the bible, fire is often associated with God’s presence and with his action of love in the lives of his people. Fire is used to symbolize God’s love and his protective presence. Fire is also used as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence who purifies and cleanses us of sin.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we adore Jesus Christ whom St. John the Baptist has prophesied. We adore him with the spirit of repentance by turning away from our sins and taking on a new way of life according to the Holy Spirit and his fire of love.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you give us the fire of your Spirit so that we may radiate the joy and truth of the Gospel to a world in desperate need of your light and love. Your word has power to change and transform our lives that we may be lights pointing others to you. Like John the Baptist, we too want to give testimony to the light and your love. May we point others to your love and mercy in the way we live, work, and speak now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
