For December 9&10, 2017
Second Sunday of Advent
Year B
John the Baptist
By
Tracy RodenbornDirector of RCIA
John the Baptist is a main figure for us the second and third Sundays of Advent every liturgical year. His preaching of a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins is always the Gospel passage no matter if we are in Year A, B or C. The similarities of the passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke are astounding! Why is he our constant companion on two Sundays of Advent every liturgical year?
Here are important things we know about John the Baptist from Mark’s Gospel in our selection this week:
- All the synoptic evangelists see him fulfilling the words of the prophets Malachi and Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."
- Many people from the Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem go out to meet him and were baptized after they acknowledged their sins.
- He wears camel’s hair, has a leather belt around his waist and feeds on locusts and wild honey.
- He knows and tells of one mightier than he who is coming after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
As we continue our journey through Advent, these things we know about John the Baptist and those who came to meet him can help us enter even more deeply into this season of preparation.
- Reflect on “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” What clutter can we clean out of our lives to make Christ’s coming “easier” not for Christ, but for us? What paths can we make straight to prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming? What paths can we make straight to prepare the world for Christ’s coming?
- The people who go out to meet this strange figure, John the Baptist, knew they were missing something. They had to make an effort to go out to him, acknowledge their sins, desire repentance and forgiveness of sins, and trust that they could change their lives. What are we missing in our lives? How can we intentionally seek out that which will make our lives more fruitful? How can we trust that we can really change our lives?
- John the Baptist was a very odd figure, as the details about his clothing and food attest. This also points to his being in line with former prophets like Elijah. How can we find God in unlikely people and places in our lives right now? Who might be a prophet in our lives? Who is calling us to something more?
- None of the Gospels show John the Baptist struggling with his self-importance. From the very beginning, he always points to Christ. What are ways that we are still not humble? How can we orient our desire for self-importance and legacy towards Christ and not ourselves?
May his example of
always pointing to Christ challenge, inspire and animate our lives during these Advent days
and always.
St. John the Baptist painted by Leonardo da Vinci, 1516.
