2nd Week of Advent 2022 (EF) - Ferial Day - John the Baptist: the Precursor Domini

Each year on the second and the third Sunday of Advent, the lectionaries of both the extraordinary and ordinary form of the Roman Rite always focus on the figure of the precursor Domini, the forerunner of the Lord, St. John the Baptist.

John’s work was to prepare the way for the Messiah—pointing to the Messiah even while still in the womb. John did so again at the Jordan river when he proclaimed  “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” 

In today’s Gospel, John send disciples who were still clinging to him when he was imprisoned to go to Jesus. 

But John’s work wasn’t merely to point out Jesus. The Lord himself stresses in the Gospel how John was the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy, the voice of One crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John called sinners to prepare their hearts to be able to recognize the Messiah for themselves when he came, to be able to welcome Him as Lord, as Savior, as the joy of our hearts, and to follow him, to decrease that he may increase in us. 

John’s was a call to conversion, something each of us are to take to heart every Advent. Perhaps that is conversion from sin that has taken root in our hearts over the past year. Perhaps that is a conversion from superficial discipleship—keeping the Lord at a distance, instead of welcoming him into every dimension of life. Perhaps the conversion we need is be more intentional in acts of charity, in prayer, in ordering our time to keep God at the center of our day, to better control our tongues in our conversations with acquaintances or strangers or political enemies. 

For some Catholics these days, the call to repentance and conversion is treated as “bad news”, met with scowls and hard hearts. They take offense at the very word on the lips of both John the Baptist and the Savior—repent, convert. But blessed are those who take no offense at him, for repentance and conversion are always precursors to grace and fruitfulness and authentic joy.

Back in the jubilee of 2000, the future Pope Benedict XVI spoke to a group of Catechists about John the Baptist and the call to conversion. He said, “The fundamental content of the Old Testament is summarized in the message by John the Baptist: metanoete – Convert! There is no access to Jesus without the Baptist; there is no possibility of reaching Jesus without answering the call of the precursor. Rather, Jesus took up the message of John in the synthesis of His own preaching: [repent and believe]. The Greek word for converting means: to rethink; to question one’s own and common way of living; to allow God to enter into the criteria of one’s life; to judge not merely according to the current opinions. So to convert means not to live as all the others live, not to do what all do, not to feel justified in dubious, ambiguous, evil actions just because others do the same. It means to begin to see one’s life through the eyes of God, and so to look for the good, even if uncomfortable, not aiming at the judgment of the majority, of men, but at the justice of God. In other words, [to convert means] to look for a new style of life, a new life.”

Blessed are those who take no offense at him. Blessed even more are those who believe in him, love him, prepare the way for him, cling to him, follow him, and spread the good news about Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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EF READINGS:

 A reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans

Brethren, For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.” And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.” And again Isaiah says: “The root of Jesse shall come, raised up to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.

A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

At that time, when John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.