Sunday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time - Matthew 3:1-12
The Gospel for today focuses on
John the Baptist. When John began preaching in the desert of Judea he
proclaimed this message: “Reform your lives! The reign of God is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken: “A herald’s voice in the
desert; prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his path.” It is in the
wilderness where “the highway of our God” will be found.
John typically wore a garment of
camel’s hair and a leather belt. He also had a strange diet that
consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey. John’s mission was to prepare
the way for the One who would come after him. Typically crowds of people
came out to hear John preach and he baptized many people in the Jordan
River. However, when John realized that many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees wished to be baptized, he soundly rebuked them saying: “You brood of
vipers! Who told you to flee from the wrath to come? If you wish to
be baptized, show proof that you mean to reform your lives. Don’t just
claim that you will reform your lives; words alone simply are not sufficient.”
John then adds: “I baptize you with
water for the sake of reform, but there is one who will come and he will
baptize in the Holy Spirit and with fire. He will clear the threshing floor and
gather his grain into barn and the chaff will be burned in an unquenchable fire!”
John called the people to repentance. Repentance (the Greek word,
metanoia) is not simply turning away from our past way of life; rather it is
the beginning of a new path to life, which typically is signified by the rite
of Baptism. Today and everyday we are called to reform our lives.
No matter how much we strive to be better human beings, we always have room to
grow. Today, ask yourself: how can I live a better life today? May
you strive to do so.
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