On the second Sunday of Advent, the Church presents us with a powerful, demanding, and profoundly necessary figure: John the Baptist . He appears in the desert with a message on his lips: “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand .” (Mt 3:2)
It is the same word that Jesus will use at the beginning of his preaching. During Advent, then, we cannot focus on gift lists, food, gatherings, lights, and even less on Santa Claus. It is a time to let our hearts be shaken by this call: conversion, straightening our paths, producing true fruit .
Based on today’s Gospel, we can pray using seven points, as we shared in our podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_tJeSC3WUE .
- John the Baptist, a model for Advent
John is the forerunner , the one who comes before to prepare the way of the Lord. Jesus calls him “the greatest among those born of women” (Mt 11:11). He is a prophet, the new Elijah, the voice crying in the wilderness, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, but above all a man totally devoted to the awaited Messiah .
During Advent, John becomes an example. Some of his characteristics and virtues can guide our preparation:
- Humility:
“ After me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry .” (Matthew 3:11).
John knows his place. He diminishes himself so that Christ may appear. This is his joy, and it should be ours. - A life of penance:
He dressed in camel hair, wore a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey. It’s not an exotic style, it’s a concrete choice of austerity. John reminds us that there is no conversion without renunciation and asceticism . - A courageous announcement:
He fearlessly points to Jesus, urges people to change their lives, denounces sin, but desires the salvation of all.
During Advent, it’s worth choosing at least one of John’s attitudes to better experience this time: more humility, more penance, more courage to proclaim Jesus who is coming.
- “Repent”: it’s not a slogan, it’s a path.
John begins by saying: “ Repent .” (v. 2). During Lent, we hear: “ Repent and believe in the Gospel .” (Mk 1:15). In Advent, the phrase is: “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand .” (Mt 3:2) . Here the emphasis is clear: the Lord is coming, prepare yourself to receive him.
Conversion isn’t just about changing your mind. It’s about changing direction . Reconsidering choices, habits, priorities, pace of life, use of time, use of money, affections, screens—everything.
This is a good time for self-reflection this week:
- In what areas of my life am I going against the Gospel?
- Where do I need to brake, change lanes, or make a U-turn? Am I going in the right direction, but still hesitating?
- The Kingdom is “ near ”: within reach.
In Portuguese, “próximo” can sound like “daqui a pouco” or “mais frente”.
In the logic of the Gospel, the idea is stronger: the Kingdom is within reach , it is “at hand”, “right here”. John announces a God who is already arriving, is very near, has already drawn near to our history .
In Advent, we remember the three comings of the Lord:
- The first one, the Incarnation, which we will celebrate at Christmas.
- The second [return], in his glorious return, when he will come to judge the living and the dead.
- The third, the coming of each day, in the Eucharist, in the Word, in the poor, in the events of our lives.
If the Kingdom is “at hand,” the question is simple and crucial: Do I reach out to that Kingdom, or is my heart far away, distracted, or too occupied with other things?
- Isaiah, the great prophet of Advent
The Gospel recalls that John was announced by Isaiah : “ This is the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight .’” (Mt 3:3; cf. Is 40:3)
In the first two weeks of Advent, the liturgy offers us Isaiah almost every day. He speaks of Emmanuel, God with us , of the salvation that comes down from heaven , of the shoot of Jesse , of the new work that God performs, of the people who walked in darkness and saw a great light .
It’s worth making a concrete resolution for this time:
- Read carefully some passages from Isaiah used in the Mass.
- Replace some time on social media with some time with the Word of God.
Isaiah helps us to see Jesus as already foretold centuries before. The promise prepares the heart to receive its fulfillment.
- “ Prepare the way ” and “ make straight the paths ”
Straightening a path is no easy task. It’s hard work. Anyone who has ever seen a road cutting through mountains understands the image: blasting rock, leveling, filling in valleys, leveling hills.
The prophet’s announcement implies bringing down mountains (pride, self-sufficiency) and raising valleys (wounded self-image, discouragement, lack of trust in God). And of removing curves, dubious shortcuts, crooked paths.
The problem is that we often reduce Advent to: Christmas tree, lights, gift list, dinner. All of that can be important, but the first preparation should be internal .
- To reconcile with someone.
- Back to confession.
- Resume a daily time of prayer.
- To make a concrete choice about charity.
It’s not just about tidying up the house. It’s about tidying up the heart.
- Flee from anger, bear fruit, leave behind false security.
John speaks harshly to the Pharisees and Sadducees: “ You brood of vipers ! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ” (Matthew 3:7). “ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance .” (Matthew 3:8). “ Do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father .’” (Matthew 3:9).
They trusted in their “spiritual membership card”: being children of Abraham, fulfilling rituals, belonging to the chosen people.
Today the risk is similar: “I am baptized, I am Catholic, I am part of such and such Community / Parish / Apostolate, so everything is fine.”
John cuts this illusion at its root: it’s not enough to say it, you have to bear fruit. God can make ” children of Abraham ” spring up even from stones. What matters is a life that corresponds to the grace received.
A good question for this Sunday is: What concrete, visible fruits does the Lord find in my life today?
Conversion is not an isolated moment in the past. It is an entire journey, until the end of life. There is the first conversion, then others, deeper ones. There is always something to correct, to order, to purify.
- Clear the threshing floor, gather the wheat, burn the chaff.
The Gospel ends with a powerful image: “ His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire .” (Matthew 3:12).
second coming of Christ , the final judgment, and the seriousness of our choices today in preparation for the Parousia are subtly revealed .
We can pray by visualizing three movements:
- Cleaning the threshing floor:
Cleaning the heart, purifying ourselves. Here we can also remember Purgatory, that work of mercy that washes, heals, and orders. - Gathering the wheat:
The wheat, those who have opened themselves to grace, will be gathered into the barn (Paradise). The joy of being wheat (Eucharist), as food for others. - Burning the straw:
The straw, a symbol of the ultimate rejection of God’s love – a real consequence of misused freedom – will be burned.
Theology speaks of the “already and not yet.” Our conversion has already begun, but it is still a work in progress. Let us cooperate with grace. Let us purify ourselves. Let us cut off the works of darkness.
A simple self-examination can help us: How much time do I truly dedicate to God, and how much time do I dedicate to distractions? Do I truly love God above all things, or is that just empty talk?
Suggestion for lectio divina with Matthew 3:1-12
- Reading ( lectio )
: Read the Gospel slowly. Note the words that most attract your attention: ” repent, ” ” is near ,” ” bear fruit ,” ” clean the threshing floor .” - Meditation ( meditation )
Ask yourself:- Where is the Lord calling me to conversion today?
- What mountain of pride do I need to bring down?
- What valley of discouragement needs to be lifted?
- What concrete results can I start producing this week?
- Prayer ( oratio ):
Speak to Jesus sincerely. Ask for the grace of a humble and penitent heart like John’s, willing to diminish so that He may grow. Surrender some aspect of your life that still resists. - Contemplation and action ( contemplatio et actio )
Spend some time in silence before God. Then choose a concrete action for this week: confession, reconciliation with someone, an act of charity, a fixed daily time for prayer.
Final prayer
Lord Jesus,
we thank you for your Word, which calls us to conversion and reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Through the intercession of Saint John the Baptist, grant us a humble, penitent heart, ready to receive you. May this Advent be a time of decision, of real change of life, of true fruits. Virgin Mary, who opened yourself to God with all your heart, teach us to welcome Jesus first into our hearts, then into all areas of our lives. Amen.
See you next week!
Shalom!
