Fr. Jerome Pistoni sx
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS OF THE 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A By Fr. Jerome Pistoni sx
John the Baptist is one of the main features during the period of Advent: he is the leading character in guiding us to do our preparation work concerning the coming of the Lord. John appears in two of the Advent Sunday readings. Humanly speaking, he is certainly not very attractive: his rough way of dressing, his aggressiveness in regard to authorities, his uncompromising attitude...
As a prophet he scares us: he is not afraid to denounce our faults. He is not afraid to attack anybody at fault or of losing anything. What could he lose? He does not own anything, anyway. He feels no need to polish his words of his style.
Characteristically, he calls himself "a voice", while Jesus is "the Word" He does not use weapons to impose his message, but surely his strong words are very forceful. He is like the wind that shakes the branches of the tree, makes most of the leaves fall down and leaves the branches naked. What is he telling us this (second) Sunday of Advent? Prepare the road, clear the way. Preparation for Christmas does not mean mainly new clothes, new shoes and a good meal. Prepare the road means to roll up our sleeves and do something very practical to clear the road, to clean up our way of life, to remove obstacles and allow Christ to enter inside our hearts. When people build a road, first of all they take away obstacles: they cut trees, break stones, level hills. Which kind of obstacles and dirt do I need to remove in order to allow Christ to enter into my daily life? Which bad habits, that keep Jesus far away from me, should I get rid of? Gossip? Dishonesty? Corruption? At the same time, when people build a road, they need to bring and add something to make it viable: filling holes and building bridges. Advent is not only doing away with bad habits, but learning some good ones. It is not enough to do away with the habit of gossiping in order to become decent and respectable, I need to learn how to connect with others and with God. There are three special words that Pope Francis has mentioned and recommended on several occasions: “Please”, “Sorry,” “Thank you”. We, too, should learn them and practise them on the appropriate occasions. They would take us a long distance on the way of "preparing", of reforming our bad habits, of welcoming Jesus present in our brothers and sisters. Happy Christmas to all.
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS OF THE 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A By Fr. Jerome Pistoni sx
John the Baptist is one of the main features during the period of Advent: he is the leading character in guiding us to do our preparation work concerning the coming of the Lord. John appears in two of the Advent Sunday readings. Humanly speaking, he is certainly not very attractive: his rough way of dressing, his aggressiveness in regard to authorities, his uncompromising attitude...
As a prophet he scares us: he is not afraid to denounce our faults. He is not afraid to attack anybody at fault or of losing anything. What could he lose? He does not own anything, anyway. He feels no need to polish his words of his style.
Characteristically, he calls himself "a voice", while Jesus is "the Word" He does not use weapons to impose his message, but surely his strong words are very forceful. He is like the wind that shakes the branches of the tree, makes most of the leaves fall down and leaves the branches naked. What is he telling us this (second) Sunday of Advent? Prepare the road, clear the way. Preparation for Christmas does not mean mainly new clothes, new shoes and a good meal. Prepare the road means to roll up our sleeves and do something very practical to clear the road, to clean up our way of life, to remove obstacles and allow Christ to enter inside our hearts. When people build a road, first of all they take away obstacles: they cut trees, break stones, level hills. Which kind of obstacles and dirt do I need to remove in order to allow Christ to enter into my daily life? Which bad habits, that keep Jesus far away from me, should I get rid of? Gossip? Dishonesty? Corruption? At the same time, when people build a road, they need to bring and add something to make it viable: filling holes and building bridges. Advent is not only doing away with bad habits, but learning some good ones. It is not enough to do away with the habit of gossiping in order to become decent and respectable, I need to learn how to connect with others and with God. There are three special words that Pope Francis has mentioned and recommended on several occasions: “Please”, “Sorry,” “Thank you”. We, too, should learn them and practise them on the appropriate occasions. They would take us a long distance on the way of "preparing", of reforming our bad habits, of welcoming Jesus present in our brothers and sisters. Happy Christmas to all.