Readings (Year A):
Isaiah 11:1 – 10
Psalm 72:1 – 2, 7 – 8, 12 – 13, 17
Romans 15:4 – 9
Matthew 3:1 – 12
Reflection: Let God’s peace and justice flourish through your lives
Integral to the season of Advent is the person and ministry of John the Baptist. He was, in every way, a strange character. His clothing was made of animal hair. He ate locusts and wild honey for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He spent much of his time in the wilderness, far from human company. When he came to town—that is, to where people lived—it was usually to scream at the top of his lungs, calling everyone to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
No one was spared. He challenged the soldiers and the tax collectors. He called out the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Not even the commoners were exempt. While many of them were pious, some were not. And none were free from sin. John the Baptist was intolerant of sin and even less patient with hypocrites. His invitation to everyone was simple: produce fruits as evidence of righteousness.
We appreciate John the Baptist better when we understand his mission in relation to the ministry of the promised Messiah, whose coming he dedicated his entire life to heralding. John knew what the coming of the Messiah meant for his people, who at that time were languishing under an oppressive Roman regime. He was deeply concerned about the pervasiveness of injustice in the land, especially the suffering of the poor—those at the receiving end of military brutality, extortion, and all other forms of dehumanization. He was saddened that so many of his people had abandoned the path of righteousness and had succumbed to despair. Above all, he understood the urgency of his mission. He was preparing the way for the Messiah, the only true king of justice and prince of peace.
In this season of Advent, the church presents John the Baptist to us as a model. John teaches us that waiting for the coming of Christ is not merely a joyful expectation—it is also careful preparation. It requires a commitment to making the world more just for everyone. It involves fearlessly challenging the structures of sin and oppression. Often, it means standing courageously against abusive power, protesting if necessary. Most importantly, it demands that our lives, at every moment, embody the fullness of the gospel of Christ, especially its emphasis on love, justice, mercy, and peace.
John the Baptist’s total commitment to his mission as the herald of the Messiah is therefore very instructive. Pope Francis reminds us, in his 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) that, through our baptism, God has called us all to be missionary disciples. This means that, like John the Baptist, everything about us must point to the Christian message. It is not enough to proclaim the gospel with our lips; we must live it.
As in John the Baptist’s time, our world today faces a myriad of challenges. Many parts of the world are experiencing violent crises: Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Israel-Palestine. Numerous people continue to live under repressive regimes and inhuman conditions. We must never forget that we are the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus to a world desperately in need of peace, justice, and mercy.
The good news is not just the imminence of justice and peace, but that it is through our lives and ministry that the justice and peace of God will flourish.
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