Mt 3/1-12
1. Background.
There was conflict between the followers of John the Baptist and the followers of Jesus in the days
of the early Church. The Baptist's people claimed superiority because Jesus had once been a
disciple of the Baptist and had been baptized by him. The Jesus people responded with stories in
which John was presented as preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. The debate no longer
concerns us today. But we do see that, whether intentionally or not, John did clear the way for
Jesus because he preached a decisive change in history. He was the most powerful of all the
apocalyptic preachers at a time when everyone was expecting change. The change which came
with Jesus was not one that people expected, probably not the one John expected. But his warning
that it was a time for "metanoia," a word meaning "total transformation" was valid for his day. And
for ours. We are called upon during advent and indeed through our whole lives to transform
ourselves, to break out of our old habits and being life again as a new person. We may not be able
to do it perfectly. We will make mistakes and fall back into old ways, but it is enough to respond
continually to the invitation.
2. Story
Once there was a man who was a bit of a bum. Talented and successful, he neglected his wife and
his children, his work and his friends, his community and his colleagues. He drank too much, lost
his temper too often, was cruel too many times. Than one day he had a tremendous religious
experience and was transformed totally. He became a good and loving husband, a generous and
sympathetic father, a diligent and creative worker, a loyal friend, a dedicated member of his
community. He was sober and kind and patient and gentle. At first everyone rejoiced in the change.
They said that they had known all along that he was a good man. Then they realized that the
change was for real and that, to continue their relationships with him, they would have to change
too. He lost his wife and his family and his job and his friends. He went back to being a bum and
got everything back. Then he had another religious experience and once more became a new man.
What do you think happened after that?
(I told this story at great length in my novel Patience of a Saint.)