In this homily, Father Vijay reflects on the birth and mission of St. John the Baptist and his call to repent. But repentance, he reminds us, is more than saying “sorry”—it is the work of repairing relationships: with God, with one another, and with the most vulnerable around us.

Drawing from a local story of homelessness in our own community, this homily challenges us to examine the walls of comfort we build around ourselves. Are our hearts truly prepared for Christ’s coming? Are we ready to serve others wisely, compassionately, and responsibly—not like the monkey who meant well but acted without preparation?

Through the lens of the Nativity Fast, Father Vijay calls us to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving so that our hearts may be shaped into vessels God can use—just as He used Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist.