2023-12-15 19:56:54
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Dear brothers, peace and good.
On the path of Advent, each year, we are accompanied by several important figures in the History of Salvation. Today the first appears, John the Baptist. The greatest among those born of women (Lk 7, 28), according to Jesus himself. It will be his turn to the Virgin Mary, to Saint Joseph, but today we talk about the Baptist.
There is a saying in Spanish, “he who warns is not a traitor.” I think it’s a good start to this week’s comment. The Lord, our God, does not play “cops and robbers”, nor does he try to surprise anyone to catch them by surprise. That is why he has never stopped sending warnings, signs or people, so that the last day does not surprise us unprepared. He even sent his only Son to us, when the time was fulfilled. To “console his people,” who suffered greatly, and continue to suffer today.
As children we are always asked what we want to be when we grow up. If you want to be something, you have to make an effort, prepare, choose the path, the studies… When there is an objective, a clear goal, it is easier to give yourself body and soul, one hundred percent. I know what I want and I know what I have to do to get it. In study, at work, even in love… In all areas of life.
We Christians We hope for a new heaven and a new earth where justice dwells, as Saint Peter reminds us today. This is our goal. In our world, it doesn’t take a genius to see it, there is a lot of justice missing. This “old land” needs a lot of touch ups. Many things need to change. And, for that, we need people who are capable of doing something. Change the world, I don’t know, but change each one a little. For the better, one supposes. If we want that better world, we have to do something to lend a hand. And help others change too.
The Lord is faithful and always keeps his promises. What happens is that if rhythm is not our rhythm. It is a rhythm of love. Whoever loves is patient and knows how to wait. Time advances in a different way. The Lord also waits for man to open the doors of his heart, he gives us time to accept him and, we know, for the Lord, “one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day” (2 Pet 3, 8).
Furthermore, the coming of the Lord will not be a glorious return to eliminate his enemies – as some sects announce – because it would imply recognizing that the first coming, humble, in the manger of Bethlehem, and his sacrifice on Calvary, were a failure and that, That is why he must return to, by force, finish what he could not accomplish with gentleness and love. No. All of his comings tell us of his goodness, of his justice, of his desire not to lose any of his creatures. Therefore, “make sure that God finds you at peace with him, spotless and blameless” (2 Pet 3:14).
Talking about change was the mission of the prophets. As John the Baptist did. His language was like a two-edged sword, hurtful and provocative: “a race of vipers” that kill with deadly poison and treachery, he said to the components of a society of opposing classes; “let the valleys be lifted up, let the mountains and hills be made low”; His message, like Isaiah’s in the first reading, was one of equality. All equal before God. Because God is the only shepherd of the entire flock. Of the only flock.
The Baptist testified with his life, with his diet, even with his clothing. It was reminiscent of the great prophet Elijah, it is not strange that they confused him with him. He attracted attention, people were interested, they approached him to find out what his message was. And when the Baptist was asked: “What should we do?”, he advised doing works like this: “Whoever has two tunics – a symbol of wealth then – should give one to those who do not have it, and whoever has food should do it.” the same thing.” What a message! Oh, if we practiced this today…! It would be much better for all of us. For us, and also for all those who have less than us. Which are many. For some tax collectors who went to be baptized He told them: “Do not demand more than what you have established”, and to some soldiers who approached him he recommended: “Do not do violence to anyone or take money; Be content with your pay.” Advice worthy of being taken into account even twenty centuries later. For everyone. Each one as much as he can.
Sharing, justice and non-violence was the summary of his message. Almost nothing. In any case, a clear invitation to change. John was for his time a ray of light, a shower of justice, a call to conversion. If his doctrine were put into practice today, “another rooster would crow” for our society that has taken injustice and disorder as the law and norm of life. We have gotten used to it. To many it seems appropriate, even. Because they are doing well in this unjust world.
The question then arises: who will be the Elijah, or the John the Baptist, who today cries out and shouts to the great that this world must change, that it is enough to divide world society between the few who have more and more and the many? that they have less and less? Perhaps today we can also say that “Elijah must return”, as the Jews hoped, or that a new “forerunner” is needed to prepare the way for the Gospel. You can be that messenger.
Advent is moving forward. As always, four weeks seems like a long time, but it goes by quickly. We wait for the coming of the Savior. We know that the next coming will be permanent. But He is coming, and coming without ceasing. And he is no longer the Lord alone, but the Lord in his Kingdom. The Kingdom is the one that comes, and it comes every day, helped by each of our small gestures, by the heartbeats of our hope committed to the Kingdom.
Your brother in faith, Alejandro, CMF
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