Second Sunday of Advent – Sunday 6th December 2015

(Sunday 6th December 2015)

The historical list at the beginning of this Sunday’s Gospel reminds us clearly that the events of our faith are historical facts.  John the Baptist was a real person, his father Zachariah was real, he grew up in a real family, and he foretold the coming of a real Messiah, Christ the Lord.  This is an important point because some who find it hard to believe think that this ‘Christ event’  was all a fairy-tale, some story, a good story I might add, but just a story, some made up tale.  However the opening of our Gospel today reminds us that the events of our faith actually happened. They are historical facts.  Our faith is based on the truth.  God is real.  God is alive.

God has been planning the salvation of humanity since the beginning of time and our salvation is made real in Jesus Christ whose coming was proclaimed by John the Baptist.  I get great consolation from the fact that clever, intelligent, more clever and intelligent than I, believed in God and trusted in Jesus.  And that intelligent, clever people like Saint Peter, the Apostles, Saint Paul saw these events happening before their very eyes and that the scriptures which we read are witness accounts of the mysteries we believe.  One of my favourite lines from all the saints, and indeed there are many memorable life changing lines, was the one from St Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes.  When faced with questions, accusations and interrogations by the powers that be and who tried to catch her out on anything she might say, her response was simply ‘I have come not to convince but to tell you what I have seen and heard’.  Simply put she was telling the truth, it was up to the hearers to believe it or not.  John the Baptist was relaying the truth.  He came not to convince but to inform that the Messiah was coming.

Now the message of St John the Baptist was a very clear one.  Repent.  Simple as that! And yet it’s not that simple.  Turning from old ways, learning a new way to live and behave takes courage and strength.  We are often comfortable in our sins.  We sometimes mourn the loss of sinful behaviour, for sin has its attractions and its comforts.  Yet ultimately sin robs us of the very thing we are looking for.  We want intimacy; we need the longing of our hearts to be satisfied.  Sin promises us that it will deliver all this.  It doesn’t.  Sin leaves us empty, unsatisfied and often even alone.

And yet we are never alone. God is with us. This Advent, what better way could you spend it than by turning back to God in a new way and making a really special effort to live a new life.  Clear back the clutter.  Make a list of priorities in your life.  Put prayer at the top of the list and prioritise it each day.  Spending time in prayer each day, asking the Lord Jesus for his deep healing and peace is the road to true fulfillment and satisfaction.   As the great Therese of Lisieux said ‘throw yourself into the loving merciful arms of Jesus”.  With his grace, and not your own merits you will avoid sin and keep pure and sinless.

Finally as this special grace filled ‘Year of Mercy begins’ make it your priority to go to confession and try to encourage someone else to go to.

Fr. Eamonn Bourke