Weekly thoughts on the Sunday Gospel, readings or a topic...

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seeing your life through the lens of the gospels – Matthew 3:1-12
1. John the Baptist came to bear witness to Jesus. Who have been the people who have borne witness to us of the good news of the gospel that God loves us – a friend, a parent, a teacher, etc? To whom have we borne that witness?
2. John appears in the story as one who had the courage to be himself in the face of opposition. He was also a person who knew his own value, did not make exaggerated claims and was content with his mission. Can you recall times when you have been content to be yourself, without pretending to be more than you are? What was it like to have that freedom, even in the face of criticism from others?
3. John was ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness’ – announcing confidently to those in the wilderness that they must not despair because God’s grace may come to them at any moment. Have you had the experience of being in the wilderness, feeling lost? From whom did you hear a voice that gave you hope? Have you been able to give hope to other people when they were in the wilderness?  – John Byrne, OSA

The Deep End
‘Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.’ (Dave Barry)
We might recognise ourselves in the above statement! We are so used to the commercial side of Christmas – the frenzy of ads and gift-buying, the extravagant decorations and parties – that it is easy to forget what we are really celebrating.
That’s where John the Baptist comes in. We first meet John in Luke’s Gospel, before he is even born: Elizabeth’s pregnancy is announced at the same time as Mary’s, though John will be born first. The next we hear of John, he appears as God’s messenger (as we hear in today’s Gospel), preparing the way of the Lord. His job is to set the stage for Jesus to begin his ministry, and his central message is repentance. The Greek word for repentance was metanoia, which literally means a change of heart, or turning one’s life around. So John is inviting his audience to make a break with the past, turn to God, and go in a different direction. When Jesus begins his own ministry, his first message is the very same: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’
This is a fitting message as we enter the second week of Advent. As we prepare to welcome Jesus, we are invited to metanoia, or change of heart. As we ponder the mysteries of Christmas, we are nudged onwards in a new direction. This week, we could make a conscious effort to move away from the noise and lights of ‘the mall’, to still our minds, and to open our hearts to God’s call.
‘Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.’ (Washington Irving)  – Tríona Doherty

(from Intercom)