December 6 |
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Second Sunday in Advent Mt 3/1-12 |
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| 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 begin 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. |
read the padre |
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Story: Once upon a time, not so very long ago, a family, admired by many as an example of people who lived a good life, faced a crisis. For his business and civic contributions his church often honored the father, a self-made, multi millionaire businessman. Few people, including his own children, knew of his plan to use bribes, threats and paternalistic promises to the poor immigrant employees at one of his factories in an attempt to swing a union election in the company's favor. His son discovered the father's role, when as part of a social justice program at his college, he began working with the immigrants. At the same time, the mother, whose name appeared on just about every charitable fundraising venture committee and who had been honored at many luncheons for outstanding contributions to church and society, began a behind the scenes effort to keep a home for abused women and children from opening in her local community. Unaware of her mother's efforts, the daughter was on the committee working to find a place for these women. When parents and children finally confronted each other on these issues, each side had the same question: "How could you?" The parents could not understand how the children could be so ungrateful after all they, the parents, had done for them. The children couldn't believe what they saw a total hypocrisy on the part of the parents. It is said that eventually this crisis became a time for both generations to examine their views. |
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