The preaching of John the Baptist

It is now the third Sunday of Advent and all the more we are urged to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Messiah. The gospel reading comes from Luke 3:10-18.

“10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water but one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.”

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This is the second time that John the Baptist is given utmost importance in the entry of the Messiah into the world.  No doubt that the preaching of John the Baptist has touched many people, especially those living in Jerusalem, to the point that as the Gospel points out: “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.” It is a fact that three groups of people have asked John the Baptist what they should do…these are the questions raised by the crowd, first by the people, then the tax collectors and lastly the soldiers.

Basically, John the Baptist responded to the three groups by saying share your cloaks and food to the person who has none, then stop collecting excessive taxes, do not extort money, do not accuse anyone and to the soldiers, be satisfied with your wages. What we learn from the two Advent seasons is that Advent begins our every year as one Church.

We often think we already know what to do to spend advent meaningfully, after all, we do spend the four seasons of Advent every Christmas time. Too often, we assume we are so familiar with the season, realizing later on that we do not know exactly what to do. It is therefore, necessary that a certain John appears and reminds us during this time of preparation in advent. Whether we like it or not, the coming of John the Baptist was prophesied to be the precursor of the Messiah. Seeing John’s inevitable role, we, therefore, understand that we have to do some preparation for our Lord’s coming, to prepare everyone for the coming of God’s promise to restore us to our paradise lost.

Mind you, the role of John the Baptist allows him to have people to follow him because he speaks mighty words that only a few understand. But John was very well-grounded and never thought to claim the position of the Messiah, when he declared to the crowd saying, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire.” Of course, John the Baptist was telling the crowd that he was around to tell them that the Messiah was coming and that he would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Therefore, we must understand that we have to do some preparation for our Lord’s coming in this third Sunday of Advent. We have to wash ourselves clean of sin. We have to pray more and give more. We have to practice justice, generosity and compassion. We have to make our hearts a worthy dwelling place for our Lord in every way. Where should our preparations lead us within our spiritual life? Are we entering a new phase in our lives that Christ must increase in us as John the Baptist once said, while we decrease or become insignificant?

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