Jesus compares us to children who don't want anyone to tell them what to do. When the Lord sends us someone like John the Baptizer to tell us to repent, we may try to justify ignoring his command by discrediting him as someone who is mad (Mt 11:18). Even when God Himself commands us to repent, we may also dismiss His words by trying to discredit Him (see Mt 11:19). The Lord has sent person after person into our lives to tell us to repent. We may have ignored this command hundreds of times by saying God's messengers were too old or young, too Protestant or Catholic, black or brown instead of white, or male instead of female or vice versa. We have learned to focus on the messenger so as to ignore the message.
We must repent of not repenting. Otherwise, we deprive ourselves of Christmas and eternal life. We must repent to prepare the way of the Lord this Christmas and this life (Mt 3:3). Without an Advent Confession of sin, there is little hope that we will be open to Christ's Christmas coming. "Repent! The kingdom of God is at hand!" (Mt 3:2; 4:17, our transl.) Repent! Christ's coming is at hand! Repent! Christmas is at hand! Repent of making excuses for not repenting. Repent now!
| PRAYER: | Father, may I bring joy to heaven by going to Confession as soon as possible (Lk 15:7, 10). |
| PROMISE: | "I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to My commandments, your prosperity would be like a river." –Is 48:17-18 |
| PRAISE: | St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila worked together for years to build up the Carmelite order. Both saints are Doctors of the Church. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College