Matt.3:1-12:
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
“Journey of Hope - John the Baptist”
John the Baptist was different. His life style was different and his words were different. He spoke the truth, clearly, bluntly, correctly: “Repent!”
“Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
Repent: turn around. Face your inner most self and confess your inner most secrets, your hidden ambitions, your not so holy intentions.
Everything written in the Bible is written so we might have hope. (Rom 15:4)
The call to repentance sounds out of step, yet it is very much in step. For repentance is the source of real joy. It is the means by which we are set back on course. It is something we need to do often. It means turning around, changing direction; it is positive not negative, helpful not hurtful, necessary not optional, healthy not harmful, and even humorous, not always heavy.
Our challenge is to practice repentance until it not only feels good but also becomes a part of our very being; something we do often and joyfully because we know it leads to the joy of forgiveness.
Bear fruit: Good fruit will come as we honestly and sincerely confess our sins. It just will.
For out of a forgiven heart comes fruit worthy of repentance - compassion, forgiveness, kindness, thankfulness, helpfulness, etc. etc. etc.!
Then we will be instruments of hope in a world which always has enough hopelessness, but never enough hope!
“Streaked With Hope”
John came as a voice in the wilderness crying, “Repent...” -
and many didn’t hear; and many of those who did hear didn’t heed; and those who did hear and heed were ushered into the greatest experience of their lives - they discovered the joy of repentance (turning around) and the joy of a life of hope with God.
A sense of judgment is necessary for happiness in life. It keeps us from the world of pretense where nothing is real, and nothing is lasting.
It leads us to the joy of repenting and discovering what lies beyond our pretense.
The gift of God’s son is reason to hope.
Hope is a vital ingredient to life and to faith.
A quote from a Dr. Lowen expresses it well; “And the sorrow associated with the loss is streaked with hope.”
Streaked with hope. That’s Advent. Born of our faith; enriching our lives; even giving new meaning to suffering. Redemptive suffering which leads to joy in hope.
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