Second Sunday in Advent
Theme: “Faith in Christ; Preparing Through Repentance”
Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva
First Reading : Malachi 3: 1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 12: 1-5
Second Reading: Philippians 1: 1-11
Gospel: Luke 3: 1-6
Last Sunday we were reminded to be watchful and vigilant in His coming. Today’s Gospel taught us how to prepare for His coming.
We have our external preparations such as putting on Christmas lights and decors, and buying gifts and food for this holiday.
We should also have our internal preparation and the best way to do that is through repentance. This what St. John is proclaiming – repent and prepare the way of the Lord. We should clean blockages and obstacles at the entrance of our hearts so God can freely come to us and we can also freely come to Him. If these obstacles are not removed, it will be difficult for us to hear, feel and see God working in our life.
Repentance means a change of heart and mind, or a reconciling back to God. We need some “internal repairs” and only God could repair and heal us. Repentance would lead us to confess our sins to God, acknowledging our need of His grace. Without confession, there is no reconciliation, and when there is no reconciliation, no real change can come out of our situation and our inner person.
We have to confess to God our valleys in life, our ups and downs, our disappointments and fears. We have to forgive and forget and move on. John tells us to humble ourselves by leveling the high peak of our pride and our selfishness that wants to rise above God’s way in us.
He wants us to straighten our crooked ways and smoothen our relationship with others and our rough attitudes. Our repentance and admission that we need His grace will usher us to greet coming of Jesus on Christmas with joy, and they will see the salvation, goodness, and love of God through us.
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