Many would say commercials annoy them most when watching TV. However, those who create commercials understand that it is a real science, as they must alert consumers, entice them, interest them, and praise the product. After reading today’s Gospel, we may feel like the Church does not know how to do effective advertising. The beginning of Advent belonged to the words of expectation, faith, and vigilance of the heart; to the word “wake up and listen!” But today’s Sunday is much sharper, literally stirring us up with harsh words.
He introduces us to John the Baptist, who not only warns but also directly provokes. From his youth, he was called to become consecrated, that is, pure. He did not cut his hair, did not drink wine, did not touch a woman, and knew only one love—the love of God. As a young man, he goes to the desert, where he lives for many years alone, homeless, without property, girded with a leather belt, tall, bony, tanned, with long hair, and a beard and mustache that cover his face. But the most important thing about him is that he was a saint, the greatest prophet of God. After all, Jesus himself said about him, “Among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.”
John looked at the world with the eyes of God, and words of grave accusation came out of his mouth. He stood undiplomatically and ruthlessly against the class of Pharisees and Sadducees, and when they also attempted to be baptized, instead of praising them, he rebuked them. You brood of vipers, who has shown you how to escape the punishment that is already threatening? Do not think that you can say, “We have Abraham as our father!”—but I tell you, God can raise these stones to life and raise children to Abraham. The axe is already laid to the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. And when they asked him what to do, he answered, “Bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!”
Perhaps someone will say to himself: He gave it to them… Well done to them, the proud… But be careful! John’s harsh words are also intended for us. What would he say to us today? You who call yourselves Christians, prepare the way for the One who will come after me, because He has much higher demands! Turn around and repent! Bring forth fruit of charitable deeds, and do not forget that Christ wants to look at people through your eyes and wants to manifest Himself through your words and your actions. He emphasizes that he has a shovel in his hand to clean his threshing floor. He will put the wheat into the barn and burn the chaff with fire. Therefore, the admonition applies to you too: improve yourselves, and remove pride, hardness, and rudeness. Find your way back to your husband, wife, parents, or children, to your neighbor, classmate, coworker… Be reconciled with God and repent!
A young man put on torn clothes, tied a rope around his waist, and went out into the city’s streets. The first impression people had of him was that he was some poor, crazy man. But when they looked at his back, they saw a large sign that read, “People in the Third World are starving, and here we are feasting!” Many stopped looking at him like he was crazy at that moment, and there were undoubtedly some who began to contemplate what he wanted to tell people. And they understood that when a young man doesn’t like something, he shows it in his own way.
Did you notice the parallels between that young man and John the Baptist? Many also considered him crazy, and they treated his master the same way. The Evangelist Mark writes, “(Jesus) went into the house, and again a large crowd gathered, so that they couldn’t even eat.” When his relatives heard about it, they went to take him away, because many were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” Each of us should become John the Baptist. However, it requires a specific process. I must first repent and reconcile with God before I can ask others to repent. And let us not be sad if many consider us crazy, because they treated our Master and the prophets the same way. And for us, that is an honor!
