Fr. Christopher N. CHIZA, sx.
The Gospel text of this second Sunday of Advent speaks to us of John the Baptist as a prophet who brings a message of hope to the Israelite people who are under captivity and domination of the Roman leaders. The prophetic message of John the Baptist came out when people were expecting the coming of the Messiah. The Roman occupation increased the desire for the urgent need of a liberator, a savior. The presence of John the Baptist is an assurance that God did not forget his people and their redemption was close at hand. Thinking that God is everywhere except where people are suffering and dying can be also a big temptation in our Christian life. “All shall see the salvation of God.”
The preaching of John the Baptist took place in a socio-political and religious context of that time. The Roman occupation was burdensome. There is a real need for integral liberation. The people are not only dominated by the Roman Empire but also by the evil through their sins. A great expectation arose among the people concerning the preaching of John the Baptist who predicts the coming of a Messiah and proclaimed a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins.
Today too, there is a need for conversion and reconciliation. Our society is paralyzed and infected by the virus of sin. The message proclaimed by John the Baptist echoes in our hearts and society dominated by so many evil things. Repentance is not only the changing of one moral behavior but also the change of mentality and one’s way of thinking. It is not enough to bear the name of Christian. The most important is our conversion. Advent season is a proper time to renew our desire for a radical change through our conversion and good testimony of Christian life.
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, When Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.”
This historical input as quoted from the Gospel of this second Sunday of Advent reminds us that our salvation is not separated from our human history and weaknesses. God always intervene in our lives through a specific situation or context. Inspired by Saint Augustine I can affirm that God cannot save us without us. Our cooperation and determination is highly needed. Nobody is excluded from the salvation. Let us all cooperate for our salvation and the salvation the entire world. We have gone far from God. This Advent season is really a precious moment to remember and to come closer to our Creator. The message proclaimed by John the Baptist is an emergency light of our sinful life and a call for a radical conversion. May all flesh see the salvation of God through the nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus-Christ.
Happy moment of Advent season and Merry Christmas in advance.
The Gospel text of this second Sunday of Advent speaks to us of John the Baptist as a prophet who brings a message of hope to the Israelite people who are under captivity and domination of the Roman leaders. The prophetic message of John the Baptist came out when people were expecting the coming of the Messiah. The Roman occupation increased the desire for the urgent need of a liberator, a savior. The presence of John the Baptist is an assurance that God did not forget his people and their redemption was close at hand. Thinking that God is everywhere except where people are suffering and dying can be also a big temptation in our Christian life. “All shall see the salvation of God.”
The preaching of John the Baptist took place in a socio-political and religious context of that time. The Roman occupation was burdensome. There is a real need for integral liberation. The people are not only dominated by the Roman Empire but also by the evil through their sins. A great expectation arose among the people concerning the preaching of John the Baptist who predicts the coming of a Messiah and proclaimed a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins.
Today too, there is a need for conversion and reconciliation. Our society is paralyzed and infected by the virus of sin. The message proclaimed by John the Baptist echoes in our hearts and society dominated by so many evil things. Repentance is not only the changing of one moral behavior but also the change of mentality and one’s way of thinking. It is not enough to bear the name of Christian. The most important is our conversion. Advent season is a proper time to renew our desire for a radical change through our conversion and good testimony of Christian life.
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, When Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.”
This historical input as quoted from the Gospel of this second Sunday of Advent reminds us that our salvation is not separated from our human history and weaknesses. God always intervene in our lives through a specific situation or context. Inspired by Saint Augustine I can affirm that God cannot save us without us. Our cooperation and determination is highly needed. Nobody is excluded from the salvation. Let us all cooperate for our salvation and the salvation the entire world. We have gone far from God. This Advent season is really a precious moment to remember and to come closer to our Creator. The message proclaimed by John the Baptist is an emergency light of our sinful life and a call for a radical conversion. May all flesh see the salvation of God through the nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus-Christ.
Happy moment of Advent season and Merry Christmas in advance.