Second Sunday of Advent: Repent!

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
 
John the Baptist preached to his fellow Israelites, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Luke 3:7-8).  John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by calling God’s people to repentance: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” It is not possible to prepare the way for God if our lives are filled with little gods that we refuse to acknowledge. It is not possible to make progress in any relationship, human or divine, without an acknowledgment that we undermine that relationship by what we do.
Mature people make sincere apologies. Mature people acknowledge their sins before others.  Many people are familiar with twelve step programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous. An essential part of dealing with addiction is to make an open and honest confession of sin before another person. If possible, you apologize to the person you hurt.
Sins are forgiven by touching the body of Christ. There is forgiveness of sins in the Eucharist and the Sacrament of the Sick. The importance of confession is the acknowledgment of sin before the entire Christian community. Why before a priest? The priest sacramentally represents Christ and the entire Christian community.  
“You are as sick as your sickest secret!” is a popular saying. So much of what afflicts each of us is the same chronic sin over and over. Whether it is gossiping, foul language or whatever we struggle with. The fact that we struggle controlling our thoughts is an indication that the allure of sin is not under our control. To acknowledge our sins is to undermine its power in our life.
Sins can only be cured in community. Confession is as much about having one’s sins forgiven as it is about coming to maturity within the community and being able to live a transparent life, free of dark secrets, addictions, and rationalization. The repentance that John the Baptist called for was a turning back to God. Our repentance is made possible by God’s action. God has taken the initiative. He alone brings the reign of God. It is the business of the people of God to respond. God’s action makes human action possible.
Our parish Advent penance service is on Tuesday, December 6 at 5:30 pm in the parish church.