I wrote last week that we are joyfully preparing to celebrate the First Coming of God into the world as man at Christmas. This happened in Bethlehem two thousand years ago with the birth of JESUS. Also in this earlier part of Advent we prepare for the Second Coming of JESUS at the end of time, and St John the Baptist features rather prominently in the Gospel readings. Why?

The Gospels make it very clear that the mission and very identity of John is that he is the forerunner of Christ, the voice crying in the wilderness sent to “prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight”, because JESUS is Emmanuel – God with us. John pre-figures Our Lord in many ways. For example, in the Gospel of Luke which we are reading this liturgical year, the birth of John is paralleled with that of JESUS. Both mothers conceived miraculously. Elizabeth was an older woman and barren who then became pregnant with John. And then Mary is a virgin who conceived miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit. Both births were announced by the Angel Gabriel. Then when the two mothers with child met at the Visitation, the two babies recognised each other, and John jumped for joy at the presence of the Redeemer and was sanctified in his mother’s womb. This is the Old Testament meeting the New. John also prefigures JESUS in his ministry. He calls everyone to repentance and to prepare for God Himself coming into our midst. And then Our Lord’s own ministry begins with Him saying, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.”

So a change, a revolution is at hand and God is about to act. John called the people to a baptism of water and repentance, which again was a pre-figuring of the Sacrament of Baptism JESUS would institute as He was about to ascend into Heaven. By baptising in the River Jordan, John was calling to mind the passing of the Israelites through the Red Sea when God freed them from slavery to the Egyptians. And God, with the coming of Christ, is coming to free us from the slavery of sin, and lead us to the promised land of Heaven, towards which Baptism is the first step. And when John called the people to repentance, the word he used was ‘metanoia’ which is a Greek word meaning, change your mind, change your heart, change your attitude, change your behaviour, so as you live in accordance with God’s law.

During this Advent, it’s good to call to mind how God has already begun this work in us, but He wants to bring it to completion. He wants to strengthen us in virtue, He wants to drive out despair, He wants us to conquer addictions, and He wants to transform us, by His grace, into images of Christ His Son. But preparing the way of the Lord requires work on our part. Look deeply into your heart and see what needs to be made straight and smoothed out, repent and ask for God’s help. And then – go to Confession!  

Fr Paul Gillham, IC