07/12/2008 - 2nd. Sunday of Advent - Year B
1st. Reading Is 40,1-5.9-11 Psalm 84 2nd. Reading 2Pt 3,8-14 Gospel Mk 1,1-8

"I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins". We have declared our faith in the divine origin of the Church: we were initiated into through Baptism, as if through a secure door, as if through a unique pathway that introduces us into the presence of God whom Jesus revealed to us as Father! Baptism didn't only initiated us to know and love God, but transmitted to us his same life, make us share of his same love, make us sons and daughters. Baptism is an action of the holiness of the Church and of her divine authority. Only we celebrate it. The Jews use to call baptism every immersion in the water, done for various reasons with various meaning: they knew more than one baptism. We know and celebrate only that one Jesus passed on to us and commissioned us to do. Our life is in obedience only to him. He himself is our life. The baptism that we celebrate is a return, with Jesus, to the Father, bringing to nothing the separation that was built between us because of sins. Being an act of obedience to Jesus and in the Holy Spirit, baptism is therefore for the forgiveness of sins and the effects of these. Our sins, and those of our ancestors and of the society in which we live, have created an abyss between us and God, and between us and Jesus. Such an abyss separate us more and more from the Father because we have grown up accepting many aspects of disobedience to him without even knowing. Baptism immerge us into the divine life, and, if we live it with a son and daughter's love and trust, as it was taught to us, it would help us to start truly a new life at all aspects. Those who were baptized as adult came to experience it. But even those who, as adults, have renewed their spiritual lives within a committed group of faithful who want to live the Gospel without compromise. They don't stop thanking the Lord Jesus, grateful to the Church, to be able to live the commitment of every moment as a thanksgiving to God who has renewed their lives!

In this second Sunday of Advent we contemplate the figure of John the Baptist and listen to his message. Mark introduces him with a text taken from the prophet Isaiah. The Scriptures start to be fulfilled at his 'cry' in the desert. Many are attracted by his way of doing and his words that give hope: to get closer to him it is necessary to separate from the usual environment, a real way that represents the inner journey. To listen to the Word of God and move into conversion, one needs to separate from the usual habits, leaving behind commodities, accepting to live poor and sober. John presents himself with a simple and rough dress: the typical dress of the prophets. The Word of God is to be proclaimed by those who put God over and above all, those who don't bow down before created fashions made by the ambitions of men. He feeds on what Providence gives him, a nourishment which is not contaminated by the hands of those who are always sinners, sensual, proud and selfish even when they prepare food.
What is John saying? He is speaking of another, one who is "stronger" than him, whose role of being the bridegroom of the people of God cannot be replaced by anyone! The one who let loose the sandals is the one who can love a widowed bride in place of the one who has the right to do so: the one to come will not let anyone take this place, which belongs to God himself. God is the bridegroom of his people: his love will be realized by the one who is coming and who "will baptize in the Holy Spirit"!
John baptizes, but his baptism is only a preparation for that of Jesus. The baptism of John is limited to the conversion of life of man, that is, that man turns to God, and come to know the Son and prepare himself to welcome him. The baptism of Jesus, on the other hand, communicates the same life of God to man, divinizes him, sanctify him. The role of John is that proclaimed by Isaiah, a task to prepare the way, to make easy the coming of the Lord. The way is the one of our decisions, our relationships with others, our thoughts, and our feelings: through these the Lord needs to pass, here he needs not to find obstacles. When he them comes he brings with him joy because he brings the greatest love, that love that will never end! Hence the forgiveness of sins is important: these are the obstacles that slow down or stop the coming of the bridegroom, who loves and make life a feast. John calls all to ask for the forgiveness of sins, and after him Jesus will give the Spirit who makes us like God!
Even Peter in his second letter invites us to know our sins and to convert. The Lord will come when we would be ready, converted. The joy of his coming is near and far: is near, because the Lord is coming soon, and far, because he is patient for our good. We wait for him, changing our lives upon the desires of the Lord, who knows that we would be happy and truly joyful only when our life reflects his own life, a life in communion and love without limits. Let us enjoy, while waiting for his glorious and final coming, his first coming in the flesh and in it we already welcome was is yet to be gloriously manifested at the end of time.

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