December 5, 1999 |
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Second Sunday in Advent Mark 1:1-8 |
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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 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. |
read the padre |
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Story: Once upon a time, in the middle of this century, a man and woman started a business – a Mom & Pop music instruments business. Initially, all the employees were family members who worked long hours doing the many tasks that helped the business become a break-even operation. Eventually, friends and neighbors joined the work force and the business began to grow and prosper. Still, it remained a Mom and Pop operations and all the employees were made to feel like members of the family. And, like family members, they were expected to give their all to the business. Once the first grandchildren returned from college with their business degrees, things began to change. New stores were opened. As the number of employees increased, new levels of management became necessary. Service originally provided by another company now was offered to all customers. At the same time, employees wages increased. Regular work schedules were established. Everyone became eligible for a paid vacation. Mom and Pop, though still around, no longer seemed in charge. Many who had worked under Mom and Pop were not pleased. Despite their increased benefits, they did not trust the "young upstarts" with their "new fangled ideas." They could not understand why all the young people were eager to work under these new conditions. They longed for the "good old days." |
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