Advent 2nd Sunday
Is 11:1-10; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12
Reform Your Lives!
Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous fresco The Last Supper in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It took him three years to complete — from 1495 to 1498. An interesting story is told about this masterpiece. At the time, da Vinci had a bitter quarrel with another painter. When he began painting the face of Judas Iscariot, he used the face of his enemy — wanting it to be remembered forever as the man who betrayed Christ.
As he continued working on the other apostles, his resentment lingered. But when he began painting the face of Jesus, he couldn’t make progress. Something was blocking him. Finally, he realized that his hatred was preventing him from completing the image of Christ. Only after he made peace with his fellow painter — and repainted the face of Judas — was he able to finish the serene face of Jesus. On this Second Sunday of Advent, the Church calls us to do exactly what Leonardo did — to make peace, to let go, to be reconciled, and to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
A Call to Change Our Attitude
John the Baptist’s cry rings out across the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.” This is more than a poetic invitation — it is a call to change, to realign our lives with God’s will. John was a prophet on fire with God’s message. He denounced sin boldly — confronting Herod for his immoral life, and calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers.” Many people came to John for baptism — ordinary men and women, truly repentant of their sins. But the Pharisees and Sadducees came only to appear righteous. John saw through them. Their repentance was outward, not from the heart. So he refused them.
True repentance begins within. It is not just about feeling sorry — it is about changing direction, changing our attitude, and turning back to God. Saint Paul tells us to “put on the new man” (Eph 4:24). Advent is our chance to do that — to leave behind the old habits, the old sins, and the comfortable paths of least resistance. The time for change is now.
Wheat or Chaff?
John also reminds us that real repentance must bear fruit. “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance,” he says. Those who live in love, charity, and justice are like the wheat — fruitful and full of life. They reflect God’s qualities: mercy, truth, and peace. But those who remain unrepentant are like the chaff — empty, weightless, and easily blown away. They see no need to change and become numb to their sins. So we must each ask: Am I wheat or chaff?
The prophet Amos foresaw this when he said, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24). If we live justly, if we practice honesty and peace, then we are the wheat — the grain God gathers into His barn. But if we persist in selfishness or indifference, we risk being the chaff that is burned away.
The Baptism of Fire
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance — preparing the people for the coming Messiah. But he said, “The one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” The baptism of Jesus is not only about washing away sin; it’s about setting hearts on fire. Jesus wants to fill us with His Spirit, to purify us, and to ignite in us a passion for holiness and service. But this can only happen if we open ourselves to him. If we cling to sin, bitterness, or pride, the fire of the Spirit cannot take hold in us. Let us allow Jesus to rekindle that flame — to set our hearts burning with love for God and one another.
Are We Ready for his Visit?
A sure sign of true conversion is reconciliation — being at peace with God and with our neighbor. When we forgive others, we clear the canvas of our hearts so that God can paint something new and beautiful there. Think about it: when someone important is coming to visit us, we clean and prepare our home. The more important the guest, the greater the effort we make to make everything perfect. But what about Jesus — the most important Guest of all? He desires to enter our lives, our homes, our hearts. What greater honor could we receive?
Are we ready for his visit? Have we prepared a place for Him in our hearts? Advent is our spiritual housecleaning — a time to remove the clutter of sin and distraction, and to make room for the Lord. Let us take action now. Let us make peace with those we have hurt or who have hurt us. Let us forgive, as Leonardo da Vinci forgave, so that we too can clearly see the face of Jesus once more.
Be Reconciled and Awake
Advent is a season of repentance, renewal, and reconciliation. John the Baptist’s message is as urgent today as it was two thousand years ago: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” So let us turn from sin. Let us seek forgiveness and extend forgiveness. Let us purify our hearts and open them to the Holy Spirit’s fire. When we do this — when we let go of hatred, resentment, and pride — then the image of Christ will shine once again in us. Like Leonardo da Vinci, we will find that only after making peace can we truly paint — or live — the face of Jesus. Let us be ready. Let us be reconciled. Let us stay awake — for the Lord is near!
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