Delivered by Kezia, Cherilyn, Stella and Michaela from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Isaiah 11: 1-10; Rs psalm 72: 1-2.7-8.12-13.17; Romans 15: 4-9; Matthew 3: 1-12.

DO NOT REFUSE TOREPENT

The title for ourmeditation on this second Sunday of Advent is: Do Not Refuse To Repent. All ofour meditations during Advent are centered on the theme of welcoming the LordJesus, our Savior. In the recent past days we have pondered about the ways tomake our preparation. In this Sunday we are invited to another very importantway of preparation, the path of repentance. The scriptures present the personof John the Baptist to remind us of the importance of repentance in Advent.

This importantinvitation and reminder is not only from Jesus Christ and John the Baptist.People near us also often remind, reprimand or inform you. The issue of whetherthe reminder or warning is strong enough to change you, it really depends onthe ability of every person. Every one's freedom to make a choice isfundamental. You choose to change or remain not change. But if we want tofollow the path of our faith that the Lord Jesus Christ wants, repenting willbe more important than the freedom of each individual to choose others thanchange.

The young man wholikes to race over a motorcycle and toss the engine as hard as possible so thatit annoys many people, is warned by his parents and siblings to stop doing thataction. A man who is very addicted to smoking is warned by his wife andchildren about that dengerous addiction. A young couple are advised so thatthey have proper dating that they do not become the talk of the people aroundthem. A student is always monitored by parents so that he can finish his schoolwith good grades. And in this time of grace, the reminder to us would be this one:Don't refuse to repent. There are still many advices and warnings that we alwaysreceive from our neihbours.

People who advise andremind us actually see us and our problems objectively. They see and understandthe positive and negative sides of those rebuked or admonished. Whereas when someoneonly believe in what he or she sees and understands in him or herself, itbecomes just a subjective view. In this manner, one is controlled by personalego, interest, and pleasure. The advice, reminder and warning that come to usare actually the choices that we have to choose and follow. They attract ourattention, and so we are drawn to choose the good from the bad, or the rightfrom the wrong.

These three readingsof this Sunday together give us an important reminder or advice, namely torepent or renew ourselves from sinful life and wicked way of life. Having a newlife is the main condition for welcoming the kingdom of God that comes to us.

Let's pray. In the name of the Father... Almighty Father, may this Sunday celebration encourage us to repent andbecome the persons in our Lord Jesus Christ. Hail Mary, full of grace ... Inthe name of the Father ...