Education in Faith
In this Sunday's Gospel Reading and next week's, our Advent preparation for Christmas invites us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. Saint Matthew describes the work and preaching of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets of Israel, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. In fact, the description of John found in this reading is reminiscent of the description of the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). In this reading, John directs a particularly pointed call to repentance to the Pharisees and Sadducees, parties within the Jewish community of the first century.
John marks the conversion of those who seek him out with a baptism of repentance. His baptism may have been related to the practices of the Essenes, a Jewish group of the first century. John's baptism can be understood as an anticipation of Christian baptism. In this passage, John himself alludes to the difference between his baptism and the one yet to come: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11).
John makes very clear that his relationship to the Messiah yet to come (Jesus) is one of service and subservience: “. . . the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals” (Matthew 3:11). In the context of Matthew's Gospel, is followed by Jesus' baptism by John, an event that is attested to in all four of the Gospels and appears to have been the start of Jesus' public ministry.
John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by our repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives, as John did, the coming of the Lord.
We can all imagine John the Baptist calling people to repent. He did not fear standing up to the religious leaders of the day. John tells the people, if you produce good fruit, if you do good works, then you are not held back by your ancestry or your lack of scriptural schooling. This viewpoint is not popular with the religious leaders of the day.
John calls all to repentance. God will separate the good from the bad. It will happen at the end times, or when we die. Are we ready? And who will lead us? Isaiah tells us that leaders must be ready to promote peace and justice. Are the leaders we are following doing that? If not, then perhaps we are following the wrong people.
The readings for the Second Sunday of Advent for Year A are a call to repentance. In the first reading we hear a saviour will bring change to our world. In the second reading we are told to be more welcoming to one another. In the gospel, John the Baptist warns the people to change their ways.
- Willingness to repent
- The peaceable kingdom
- Jesus Christ brings change
- The Holy Spirit
Discussion Starters
- Who was the prophet mentioned in today’s Gospel?
- What did he do?
- John the Baptist told people they must be sorry for the things they had done wrong so they could be ready to meet Jesus.
- What things do we need to be sorry for?
- How can we change our ways so that we can be ready to meet Jesus.
- Am I ready to change?
- Am I complacent and comfortable the way I am?
- Am I ready to ask God for help?
- Who am I following?
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose
rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
MINI VINNIES
This year, once again, Mini Vinnies have organised our Christmas Appeal. Mini Vinnies were busy getting ready. Hamper baskets were decorated in Christmas colours and tags for the Christmas tree were prepared with house coloured ribbons. As well as tags informing students what hamper items they can bring. I would like to say a huge thanks to the Mini Vinnies who have given up their lunchtime each Tuesday to enable these activities to happen.
Our Giving Trees have gone up with gift tags of children, their age and whether they are female or male. We hope you will be able to buy a Christmas present for those children who may otherwise not get a present this year, especially with the price of living.
We are asking that you write a note in your child’s diary allowing them to collect a gift tag and the Mini Vinnies or staff will assist them each morning and afternoon to collect a tag.
Your child has also come home with a food/toiletry/Christmas item to purchase for their Home Group’s Christmas Hamper.
Once again we hope you will be able to assist us in gathering food/Christmas items to help those less fortunate celebrate Christmas. Please ensure all items are non-perishable and within the used by or best before date.
This year all of the items we collect will go to the St Vincent de Paul Society Hampton Park, which is based at St Kevin’s, who will distribute the items mid-December to people in need within our community.
On behalf of the Mini Vinnies I would like to thank you for your support. SFS always donates kindly to any of the appeals the Mini Vinnies organise. And remember House points will be given which will go towards the House Community Spirit Award, which will be presented to the House that has demonstrated their willingness to assist others less fortunate.
With thanks,
Giuliana and SFS Mini Vinnies