The Gospel opens with St. John the Baptist’s famous call to action, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” This can seem like a strange reading choice as we near the Christmas season, a season we rightly associate with the coming of the Infant Jesus, meek and tender. This reading becomes logical when we consider that during Advent we prepare not only to commemorate Christ’s first coming in lowliness but also prepare for His second coming in glory as Judge. In this light we understand the urgency that the Church beseeches us to conversion through the powerful words of the Baptist.
Repentance
Related to this clarion call is another which he directs towards the Pharisees and Sadducees that come out to see his ministry, “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” Repentance is not complete with only the rejection of your former actions and a firm resolution to avoid repeating them in the future.
There must be a reparation for the wrong you have done, an overflowing of your hatred for your past sin that leads you to act to make up for the wrong. Without this, not only would our repentance lack any clear external expression, but it would lack strength because we would do nothing to exercise our wills in choosing the good even when difficult.
Both Perspectives
This call fits clearly into the Advent season from both perspectives of Christ’s coming. Obviously, when Christ comes as judge, we will be happy if we have made reparation for our sins as an outward expression of our full and total abhorrence of those sin which separated us from God. Regarding the Infant Jesus, we know that the wise men brought with them gifts when they approached the humble manger of the Incarnate God. Should we not also have ready in hand something to offer Our Lord, who has come down from heaven to be with us, His people? Sin is that which most displeases Him. Your repentance, our rejection to sin, therefore, is very pleasing to him. Let us go forth this Advent season, repenting and doing penance, ready to meet our Savior when He comes.
