Talk for the Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2010
A Day of Reckoning

“The biggest overall of the national school lunch program in 30 years, will mark a big victory for first lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity campaign. Championed by a coalition of celebrity chefs appalled by the poor quality of school lunches, the ten-year legislation will increase nutrition standards and eliminate junk food and soda from school campuses nationwide The Senate previously approved the legislation.” (PBP.-Thursday) This obviously is a wonderful idea which is long overdue , and I’m sure all would agree , that nutrition for our school kids is indeed, not just important, but essential. But what about nutrition for us adult catholics – nutrition for our spiritual journey, which far outweighs in importance physical nutrition. Today’s readings from the great spiritual leaders, Isaiah, Paul and Matthew challenge us, and in the fiery, abrasive words from John the Baptist that, we are to”produce good fruit as evidence of our sincerity.”

Can we produce “good fruit” if we are not being nourished and fed by God’s Word rather that much of the non-essential and trivial-surface stuff that unfortunately passes for the “good life.” John the Baptist would classify so much of American life, as 'much to do about nothing.’ Another heading in the PBP this past Thursday stated:”Deficit report warns of fiscal ‘reckoning ..The report, ominously titled ”The Moment of Truth.” The proposed final report by the bipartisan commission warned of a “fiscal reckoning without major sacrifices.” Members of the commission said there was no way forward without difficult choices.

Our gospel from Matthew 3:1-12;John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, ”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” .It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying in the desert ,Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”. Don’t you think that listening to John the Baptist message involved sacrifices, and for many a whole new way of looking at life. Our second reading from Paul to the Romans (15) “Brothers and sisters; whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another. ….and with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The ‘hope’ which Paul speaks about is set forth in our first reading:”on that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom .The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, the calf and the young lion shall browse together. ”That’s our hope With God all things are possible. AMEN.