Such love, such generosity must be responded to. We must respond by transforming our lives, by converting, by embracing a new way of life. Not living in fear, but living in faith. Not cowering in the corner, but walking bravely on the road of life. Not selfishly thinking only of ourselves; but putting others first. Not acknowledging only ourselves as the center of existence; but humbly submitting to, giving ourselves over to, almighty God. And this is where the gospel comes in. The beginning of Mark’s gospel opens up with the figure of John the Baptist. the Baptist appeared “John in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” What is this? What is a baptism of repentance? It literally is an immersion into conversion (metanoia); a throwing of myself into a life of continual transformation and change. As God has forgiven my sins, so that demands a response from me to embrace that change, that transformation, in my life. I need to live now no longer sinful, no longer thinking of myself first, but changed, converted, transformed each and every day. God has shown his people, has shown us, comfort. He has strengthened us in our weakness and frailties. The only appropriate response is changing our lives to be more in accord with the life of Christ. Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ, the Messiah of God. May we use this Advent time to embrace our Messiah who is the word of God’s consolation and the very embodiment of the comfort God desires to give us. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!
Such love, such generosity must be responded to. We must respond by transforming our lives, by converting, by embracing a new way of life. Not living in fear, but living in faith. Not cowering in the corner, but walking bravely on the road of life. Not selfishly thinking only of ourselves; but putting others first. Not acknowledging only ourselves as the center of existence; but humbly submitting to, giving ourselves over to, almighty God. And this is where the gospel comes in. The beginning of Mark’s gospel opens up with the figure of John the Baptist. “John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” What is this? What is a baptism of repentance? It literally is an immersion into conversion (metanoia); a throwing of myself into a life of continual transformation and change. As God has forgiven my sins, so that demands a response from me to embrace that change, that transformation, in my life. I need to live now no longer sinful, no longer thinking of myself first, but changed, converted, transformed each and every day. God has shown his people, has shown us, comfort. He has strengthened us in our weakness and frailties. The only appropriate response is changing our lives to be more in accord with the life of Christ. Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ, the Messiah of God. May we use this Advent time to embrace our Messiah who is the word of God’s consolation and the very embodiment of the comfort God desires to give us. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!