Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Second Sunday of Advent

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm

6. WAKE-UP CALL (MT 3:1-12)

“The brightest of all lights follows the lamp that goes before him. The Word follows the voice in the wilderness. The bridegroom follows the friend of the bridegroom who is making ready for God a special people, cleansing them with water in anticipation of the Spirit.”

- St Gregory Nazianzen

Matthew 3: 1-12

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’. This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said: ‘A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ This man John wore a garment made of camel hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.

But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’

CHRIST THE LORD No prominent figure makes an official visit unannounced. Long before the pope sets foot in a country, the people there begin their preparations, so as to give him a fitting reception. Presidents announce ahead of time when they will make a public appearance, so that proper arrangements can be made.

Jesus Christ is no less gracious. Before he began his public ministry, the Holy Spirit sent John to make the preparations, to remind the people of Israel of their long-standing covenant with the God of heaven and earth, to inform them that the eagerly awaited Messiah was soon to arrive, and to instruct them about how to get ready. John himself was such a powerful figure – Israel’s only prophet in more than two centuries, described by Christ as the greatest of all prophets – that many Jews thought he was the Messiah. But the Messiah, John assured them, would be much greater; he would be a true King (for whose travels in ancient times roads were built and repaired, explaining the phrase “make straight

his paths”) coming to inaugurate his rule – as he still does today and every day, when he comes to his people in the Eucharist.

CHRIST THE TEACHER Christ’s messenger offers an invaluable lesson. He teaches us how to prepare for the Lord’s coming (thus this passage’s prominence in the liturgy of Advent, when the Church focuses its attention on the three comings of Christ: Bethlehem, history’s end, and the “today” of the liturgy). Clearing the road for Christ to enter our lives means first of all repenting, turning from our selfish ways, and secondly bearing good fruit (actions of self-giving and self-forgetful love) to show that our repentance is real. It begins with acknowledging our sins, because how can we have room in our hearts for a Savior when we do not think we need to be saved? It concludes with a decision to leave sin behind and concrete actions to carry out that decision. Only then, after repenting and reforming, will we be able to really experience the joys of the coming Kingdom.

CHRIST THE FRIEND A powerful Lord demands loyalty from his subjects; a wise teacher explains the ways to be loyal; but a friend goes one step further, offering forgiveness for disloyalties committed, and providing strength to start over again. Jesus Christ is our Lord, and he is our Teacher, but no matter how small or large our infidelities may be, he is above all our Friend, reaching out his hand again and again to strengthen and forgive, especially through the sacrament of reconciliation. What greater gift can we offer the heart of Christ than the gift of taking that hand in our own? If the pope were coming to our house, we would be sure to have everything in order. Christ wants to come anew into our hearts each day, each season, each time we receive Holy Communion – bringing new graces to help us meet all the challenges we face and all those still to come; should we not prepare our hearts well?

CHRIST IN MY LIFE Lord, help me to know myself. If I were to meet John the Baptist, what warning would he have for me? Which of my habits or attitudes are constricting your action in my life, limiting the intimacy of our friendship? I really do want to follow you. I believe that you are the King of kings, my Lord and Savior. Dear Jesus, come and cleanse my heart from all desires except the desire to follow wherever you lead...

You are eager to come into my life, to be my Savior. You are eager to come into everyone’s life, to lead all people to the fullness of human happiness here on this earth and forever in heaven. I know some people who need to hear this good news. Show me how to be like John the Baptist for them. I am your ambassador; please keep me faithful...

You never get tired of forgiving me. Why is it often so hard for me to forgive those around me? My heart is resentful. I take offense...Jesus, I put my anger at your feet. Maybe I can’t help feeling those emotions, but I offer them to you so that you can make sure my words and actions stay true to yours: “Father, forgive them...”

QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

1. What struck you most in this passage? What did you notice that you hadn’t noticed before?

2. John reprimands the Pharisees and Sadducees (religious and political leaders of Israel) for being hypocrites, for coming to be baptized but not changing their lives. In what ways is it especially easy for Christ’s followers to be hypocritical in today’s society? In your particular life situation?

3. St Matthew uses the phrase “Kingdom of heaven” thirty-two times in his Gospel. What does this term tell you about the nature of Christ’s Kingdom?

Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 717-720 on the role of John the Baptist in the mystery of salvation; 1430-1433 on interior penance; 678 on Jesus taking up John’s theme of judgment; 541, 669, 671 on the Kingdom of Heaven