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Dear Friend,
Who is this "Son of Man" who is to come? To know Him, let us listen to His contemporary, His relative John, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Read the Gospel of this second Sunday of Advent according to Matthew (3:1-12) to your family.
Meditation ~
John lived in the desert on locust and wild honey. He wore clothes of camel’s hair. No life can be simpler than this. He had no other interest but to be the voice Isaiah (Is 40:3) mentioned centuries before: "I hear a voice shouting in the desert: prepare a way for the Lord; make his paths straight."
To prepare a way for the Lord, John preached to the people: "Change your ways, the Kingdom of heaven is near!"
The people came to him and are baptized, a symbol of their repentance. But John said to the Pharisees and Sadduccees that baptism is not enough – they must show evidence that they have indeed changed.
Why did John single out the Pharisees and Sadduccees?
They must be like a good tree that must bear good fruit.
For the One who is to come will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The choice is between to be blessed by the Holy Spirit or to be burned in everlasting fire.
Contemplation ~
Imagine yourself with the disciples that day in the desert. Listen to John speak to you as a Catholic, as he speaks to the people, the Pharisees and Sadduccees. Being Catholic is no guarantee that Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. John asks for evidence of your repentance – some good fruit.
Help each other in the family to bear "good fruit."
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
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