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Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2004
I am baptizing you with water to lead to repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3: 11
Are You the One?
Throughout the history of God's relationship with man, prophets appeared one after another to warn the people of the dire consequences of their sins. They urged them to turn away from sin and follow God's law. They reminded them again and again that God had made a covenant with them that obligated them to keep his commandments.
John the Baptist was the last of the prophets. His message was the same as that of the prophets before him, but he announced it with a greater sense of urgency because he knew by the prompting of the Spirit that the Anointed One of God was about to appear. He made it clear to his hearers that this was their last chance to repent and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah.
But John himself did not fully understand his own prophecy. Like everyone else he found Jesus to be not what he expected in a messiah. Near the end of his own life, in prison and uncertain if his prophetic mission had achieved its purpose, he sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one we have been waiting for, or should we look for another?"
Jesus was in fact the one we have all been waiting for. He has fulfilled all the ancient prophecies, but in a way no one expected. All the prophets called upon the people to turn back to the Lord, but time after time the people showed that they were not capable of repentance. In spite of the prophets' warnings, they were not able to turn away from sin and remain faithful to the covenant. They could not save themselves through observance of the law.
So Jesus went beyond the prophetic tradition. Knowing that man could never free himself from sin, he took sin upon himself, and laid down his life to reveal for all time that God's salvation is free. When Jesus died on the cross, he was plunged into a baptism of suffering and death that transformed each one of us into a new being. We are all submerged in the baptism of Jesus' death, and we emerge with the burden of sin removed from us. We have been set free, and our life is now an unending song of praise and thanksgiving for the wonderful gift of God's love.
Lord Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross you freed us from sin and death, and by rising from the dead you opened for us the way to eternal life. Keep us faithful to the new covenant which you have sealed with your own blood. May we never cease to give you praise for the gift of your mercy and love.
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