Repentance
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ - Matthew 3:1-2
During this season of Advent one notable character we encounter in our gospel readings is John the Baptist. John seems to come from out of nowhere. And from the description we get from the Gospel of Mark, John certainly wouldn’t have made the best-dressed man of the year as he wore camel’s hair with a leather strap around his waist, plus he wasn’t much of a dietitian since his diet consisted mainly of locusts and honey. John would have appeared to be a rather wild man.
However, in this case we can say the clothes don’t make the man for John was powerful in his own way. Fred Craddock points out that John the Baptist was the greatest preacher of his generation. Not only was John the herald for the coming Messiah, he was preparing the people for the Messiah by getting them to repent of their sins and be baptized.
People, even some of the most devout, came from all around to see and hear this strange man who lived in the wild and preached repentance.
Sometime back our bishop posted a reflection on Advent on You Tube, and one of the things that he said in this clip was that repentance was not just being sorry for our sins. Rather, the term we use for repentance is derived from the Greek word, metanoia. Where meta means or indicates change and noia means understanding. In other words, John reminds us that we are called to change our understanding of God’s world.
Thus, many of the people who made the trek into the River Jordan wilderness were seeking a change in their understanding of God’s world and themselves so that they could enter God’s kingdom. In making the trek they were making room for John the Baptist, just as we should this Advent season because John is Advent personified.
Of course, John’s message didn’t reach everyone, particularly the religious leaders, who provided John the chance to utter some of his most harsh invectives against them: “You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
John also admonished the Pharisees and Sadducees to not use their claim of ancestry from Abraham for that claim a few shekels wouldn’t buy them a cup of coffee from the local Starbucks.
John’s words were shocking for those who heard them, and they should be shocking to us, too, especially the paradox of Advent and the fast-approaching Christmas season – something many of us never see or even consider. We tend to “glide over” or shake our heads in agreement about the meaning of Advent. But we should pause and ponder whereby we would realize that John the Baptist is a stark contrast to all the trappings and gaiety of Christmas.
John reminds us that our repentance is needed as preparation not only for the Christmas that is near, but it is needed to prepare ourselves for Christ’s return.
John would be an Advent guest that would have us scratching our heads wondering what in the world is wrong with him, but his presence should cause us to contemplate our own lives and repent of ways that prevent us from seeing or entering the kingdom of God.
Again, we must make room for John the Baptist this Advent season because his is the voice we so desperately need to hear.
During this season of Advent one notable character we encounter in our gospel readings is John the Baptist. John seems to come from out of nowhere. And from the description we get from the Gospel of Mark, John certainly wouldn’t have made the best-dressed man of the year as he wore camel’s hair with a leather strap around his waist, plus he wasn’t much of a dietitian since his diet consisted mainly of locusts and honey. John would have appeared to be a rather wild man.
People, even some of the most devout, came from all around to see and hear this strange man who lived in the wild and preached repentance.
Sometime back our bishop posted a reflection on Advent on You Tube, and one of the things that he said in this clip was that repentance was not just being sorry for our sins. Rather, the term we use for repentance is derived from the Greek word, metanoia. Where meta means or indicates change and noia means understanding. In other words, John reminds us that we are called to change our understanding of God’s world.
Thus, many of the people who made the trek into the River Jordan wilderness were seeking a change in their understanding of God’s world and themselves so that they could enter God’s kingdom. In making the trek they were making room for John the Baptist, just as we should this Advent season because John is Advent personified.
Of course, John’s message didn’t reach everyone, particularly the religious leaders, who provided John the chance to utter some of his most harsh invectives against them: “You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
John also admonished the Pharisees and Sadducees to not use their claim of ancestry from Abraham for that claim a few shekels wouldn’t buy them a cup of coffee from the local Starbucks.
John’s words were shocking for those who heard them, and they should be shocking to us, too, especially the paradox of Advent and the fast-approaching Christmas season – something many of us never see or even consider. We tend to “glide over” or shake our heads in agreement about the meaning of Advent. But we should pause and ponder whereby we would realize that John the Baptist is a stark contrast to all the trappings and gaiety of Christmas.
John reminds us that our repentance is needed as preparation not only for the Christmas that is near, but it is needed to prepare ourselves for Christ’s return.
John would be an Advent guest that would have us scratching our heads wondering what in the world is wrong with him, but his presence should cause us to contemplate our own lives and repent of ways that prevent us from seeing or entering the kingdom of God.
Again, we must make room for John the Baptist this Advent season because his is the voice we so desperately need to hear.
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