Dec4 Written by:Graydog
04/12/2004
Sunday, December 5
2004
Second Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3:1-12
Repentance. Today's Gospel is rather clear. Repentance is a major key to life. John the Baptist is really hammering the Pharisees and Sadducees (hmm, must be related to Jesus...). Remember now, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were the spiritual and religious leaders of the Jews of that time. John is totally disregarding their status, and even says that being a son of Abraham isn't where it's at. This is the equivalent of someone telling us all today that being Catholic is not the big "be all end all", and that God can raise up Catholics from stone, so no big deal! The line that is the clutch for me is, "Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance" and "every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." It is much like the Letter of James and the whole faith and works deal. Repentance bears good fruit, like healing, new life, trust, love, joy, and other stuff of that sort. So what's more important, owning up to the times we mess up, and seeking forgiveness and new life, or having the label of Catholic on us? Of course, in actually BEING Catholic, we WOULD seek forgiveness and new life as we repent of our sins. Hey, we even have an entire sacrament dedicated simply to that! It must be important. And so today, we are given yet another reminder in our cycle of readings of the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness. Yes, we all sin. But we do have the death and resurrection of Christ redeeming us. We must, however, cooperate with it and do our part in being the best we can be and owning up to the times we are not. Repentance. It's a holy thing. May we all see the beauty of it and also then act on it as often as needed (usually every day...). Oh, and pride need not apply...
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