(Advent Sunday II) The Figure of John the Baptist

For the second Sunday of Advent, we are given the image of John the Baptist, the pre-cursor of the Lord. The Church, in the Catechism, tells us that we should make our own the desire and expectation of the Baptist for the Lord who returns on the last day. The selection from Mark 1:1-8 gives us a picture of John waiting for the Lord in the desert as he proclaims his return.

Relevant Articles

Sunday Thoughts: The Church and John the Baptist
The Baptist
See also this article on the reading from Isaiah

Guide for Reading

1. Try to notice the following about the text
   1. The title of the whole book, v. 1
   2. Two quotations from the prophets Isaiah and Malachi to set the theme for the description of John the Baptist
   3. The description of the work of the Baptist
2. Study the following quotations from the prophets in their proper context: what do these two citations contribute to the Gospel selection?>
   1. Malachi 3:1
   2. Isaiah 40:3
3. Study the following details about John the Baptist: what do these details say about the work of the Church in Advent?
   1. the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins
   2. the clothing and eating habits of John
   3. the content of his preaching

Comparing The Readings

The first reading is taken from the beginning of the Book of Consolation of Isaiah. The message of the selection is that of comfort and solace. The prophet is commanded by the Lord to tell the people of Israel that the time of their suffering for their sins has come at an end. Something new is coming up, a time when they will experience in a new way the protection and care of God.

The selection from 2 Peter is an instruction given to those who are being influenced by “scoffers”. The word “scoffers” are used in the Old Testament for people who make fun of the beliefs of the people of God. The term appears in the psalms in a context of a plaint against Yahweh’s devotees. “Scoffers” — from the point of view of Yahweh’s devotees — are enemies against which God will be vindicating His people. In the second letter of Peter, the scoffers are also members of the Christian community who have fallen off from the faith; they make fun of the belief of Christ’s return. Peter reminds his community that there is no such thing as a delay because time is reckoned in a different way by God. And if there is “delay” in Christ’s return, it is because He would like people to have time for repentance and conversion.

It is to be noted that the themes of both the first and second readings create the setting for the atmosphere of Advent which is that of an invitation to conversion. The success of John the Baptist’s ministry is due to this grace-filled invitation to the kingdom that comes near. Advent is a joyful season, not only because it announces the nearness of Christmas, but because from the perspective of salvation history, the nearness of Christ’s coming should inspire joy and comfort for those who truly wait for Him.

Suggestions for the Lesson

From the perspective of the Second Coming of the Lord, the Church is His Precursor. In so many ways the Church is like John the Baptist in her work of evangelization. The work that has been entrusted to her (cf. Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20) is the work that the Lord would like to find her doing at His return (cf. Mark 13:33-37). Given this framework, I would suggest the following:

1. Take a hint from the Catechism where it says that during the time of Advent, the Church is to make as her own the desire of John the Baptist for the arrival of the Lord. All the asceticism of Advent derives from this first idea¹.
2. From the demeanor of the Baptist, one can get an idea of how the Church should appear: in clothing and food, as one who depends entirely on what God provides. The simplicity of John the Baptist, should also be the simplicity of the Church. In the way he looks, John the Baptist actually becomes an illustration of one who waits for the visitation of God: utterly dependent on Him and totally focused on His coming.
3. From the preaching of the Baptist, one can get a clear idea of what should be the content of the Church’s proclamation: the One Mightier, Christ.

Advent is the season where we train ourselves to focus our attention on the Lord who returns. And John the Baptist is the perfect example of one who is focused and attentive to the One Who Comes.