THE VOICE OF PENITENCE

Meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year A
(Is 11:1-10; Rm 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12)

Our preparation and waiting for the coming of Jesus summon us to personal responsibility. Advent spirituality guides us to model our life after Jesus, so that when He comes, He will find us ready to welcome Him. The prophet Isaiah opens up our minds to understand the identity of the expected Messiah. He began by announcing the humble appearance of the Savior. “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of His roots.” The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon this humble Branch, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

The prophet explained that the Messiah, who would come like a shoot from the stump of Jesse, shall judge with righteousness and equity, delivering the meek from the wicked. “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” He shall bring peace and reconciliation. He shall bring to the earth the knowledge of the Lord, and all nations shall seek him. “And his dwellings shall be glorious.”

 

To wait for the Lord in this Season of Advent implies that we make efforts to adjust our lives to meet the Lord and welcome Him. That means we must begin to adjust our ways of life to align with the person of Jesus as announced by the prophet Isaiah. This is what the second reading and the Gospel emphasized. St. Paul explains that divine instructions, given in former days, like the ones we read from prophet Isaiah, breed steadfastness and encouragement, so that we will not lack hope. As we abide to these words of hope, God will give us the grace to live in harmony with one another, “In accord with Jesus Christ, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The peace and reconciliation that dwells in Christ, is expected to be manifested among those ready to welcome Him. In other words, a sign that we are waiting and ready to welcome the expected Messiah is our readiness to welcome and reconcile with one another.

 

John the Baptist steps in, his voice roars in the desert: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He not only preached with his voice, but he himself became the message. John too arose with great humility; his dressing and food was so lowly! Both his voice and appearance spoke of penitence. Yet, he rose like a shoot from the stump, a lonely voice in the dry land, but the truth and power in his message attracted the people to him. “And they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” John the Baptist warns of the impending danger if we do not make way for the Lord by repenting of our sins.

 

That is why his baptism of repentance prepared the people for the baptism of the Holy Spirit that was to come in Christ Jesus. The coming of Jesus ushers in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which will animate in those ready to receive Him the righteousness of Jesus as announced by Isaiah. This will bring renewal to the face of the earth, and separate the wheat from the chaff. We can see already the self-inflicted destruction among individuals, families and societies that choose the chaff life, which is not guided by the Holy Spirit and is empty of the righteousness of Jesus. That is why we must listen to the voice from the desert, the voice of penitence, which summons us this Advent to humble ourselves under the Shoot from the stump of Jesse, and put on His righteousness and faithfulness.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church.

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday December 4, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com