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Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 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.’” 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. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 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? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 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. 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. “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. 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.”

By: The Venerable Michael J. McKinnon

Repent and keep watch: In this holy Season of Advent, the Church is called to “keep watch” as she prepares for the coming of her Lord. One way in which the Church prepares for His coming is through the gift of repentance. Yes, repentance is a gift. It is a divine gift, allowing sinful man to change course; to turn from sin and eternal death and to embrace the gift of eternal life either initially or anew in Jesus Christ. The word “repent” is a nautical term. Thus, “to repent” is to turn a ship around 180 degrees. God is life. There is no life apart from Him. Thus, to steer a course away from God is to set sail into the ever darkening waters of eternal death. The further we travel along this course without repentance, the further we are from the gift and source of life Himself.

The Scriptures are clear, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We must choose: death through sin or life through Jesus. It is not possible to have both. “I [the Lord] have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live…” (Deuteronomy 30:19). If we fail to heed the Word of God and choose sin, failing to repent, then we embrace death; eternal death (not so much as a punishment, but as a consequence of our choice). If we choose repentance, then we choose life; eternal life in Christ Jesus. However, sin is always waiting for us, longing to lead us away from this precious gift of God. God tells us in Genesis 4:7, “[S]in is couching at the door; its desire is for you…”. Thus, sin begets death and death is separation from God. However, God’s desire is for us too. Repentance begets forgiveness and life and life is eternal communion with God. Metaphorically speaking, God cannot imagine eternal life without you. He longs to be with you and to have you dwell with Him forever.

In the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 3, verse 15, Jesus is identified as the “Author of Life”. There is life in no one else. Jesus identifies himself as, “the Bread of Life” (John 6:48); “the Light of Life” (John 8:12); “the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25); “The Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). There is no life apart from the Author of Life, “[T]here is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” – Acts of the Apostles 4:12.

In today’s Gospel Lesson we hear the words of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (see Matthew 3:1-12). That is, the time has come for us to abandon the ways of sin and death and repent, that we may have life. It is this ministry of John the Baptist that is now entrusted to the Church. We are to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord in the hearts of men, to call them to repentance, and to proclaim a message of life; a Gospel of Life.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God when the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” Luke 1:76-79.

Sadly, there are many who will refuse this gift of repentance, that road that leads to eternal life. As Jesus said, “[Y]et you refuse to come to me that you may have life” – John 5:40. Yet still, we must press on proclaiming the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. For no ordinary ministry has been entrusted to us. We have the ministry of reconciliation, of proclaiming repentance. “[H]ow are men to call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” – Romans 10:14.