Spirit-Filled Missionary
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
"Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses" (Pope Paul VI). In today's gospel, we heard about the preaching of St. John the Baptist in repentance. If we pay close attention to the church's liturgy, we will always come across the story of St. John the Baptist during the seasons of advent and lent. The reason for this is that his witness serves as an example of how we should prepare for the Lord's arrival. With the help of the gospel today, let's see what we can learn from the example of St. John the Baptist.
First, we see St. John the Baptist's example of communion. In the introductory lines of the gospel, we read, "John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea." Note the word "desert." He is in the desert. Whenever we hear about a desert or a mountain, it symbolizes a place where a person can commune with God. It is a place of solitude, a place of encounter, and a place of union with God. St. John's situation being in the desert implies that to be an effective missionary, it all starts with prayer. In prayer, we will recognize and know who God is. It is our relationship with God. When we know who God is personally in our lives, it will inspire us to share this loving relationship with others.
Second, we see St. John the Baptist's example of truth. St. John's call to repentance is more important today than ever. It is a truth that is often forgotten by many Christians. Repentance is the total transformation of mind and heart that involves turning away from sin and toward God. This advent season, the Church reminds us to have a personal, continual conversion throughout our lives. This radical invitation of the gospel needs our hearts to be taken by God, allowing Him to reform and cleanse them through the sacrament of confession. This conversion ends in union with God, being Christ to others, and being the agent of peace and love to other people.
Third, we see St. John the Baptist's example of courage. Today, we are afraid to speak about the sins of others. But in reality, admonishing them is an act of mercy because, by doing it, we are helping them not go astray and leading them to what is true and liberating. We are called to "speak the truth in love," as St. Paul put it, with both courage and compassion. Our communion with God has taken away our fear, allowing us to be true witnesses to Our Lord Jesus Christ. With that, we have the confidence to speak about the love of God because of that experience of communion with God.
Thus, the example of communion, truth, and courage by St. John the Baptist is the invitation of today’s gospel. We cannot do this on our own. That is why God gives us the Holy Spirit, who gives us "a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD." In preparing ourselves for the coming of the Lord, let us imitate St. John the Baptist by being a spirit-filled missionary.
