Second Sunday of Advent/A
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Mt 3:1-12) John the Baptist, to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to his baptism, tells them not to seek support, justification in something outside themselves, namely in the fact that they have Abraham as their father.
The essence of conversion is slowly learning to take up residence within ourselves, to live, to dwell in our interiority in order to free ourselves from all that, external to us, which illudes us that we are ‘OK’, that we are secure, that we are worthwhile.
The path of conversion makes us stronger people because it slowly enables us to walk healthily on our own, to make our own choices, to make those necessary separations that only enable us to become adults.
In fact, our true value does not lie in the teachers with whom we have studied, in the “sure and certain” paths where we are assured of not making mistakes and not disturbing anyone, in the benevolence and approval of those who have governing responsibilities, to whom we are, in some way, subjected.
Our value lies in the choices we slowly become capable of making by exercising our freedom, the only thing for which we can truly say that we have been created ‘in the image of God’.
If our journey of conversion is genuine, it gradually leads us here, into a healthy solitude which alone allows us to encounter the true God, who desires for us only “life in abundance”.
The Offertory antiphon of today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 84 (Ps 84:7–8), with the following text:
Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos, et plebs tua lætabitur in te.
Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam et salutare tuum da nobis.
(You will turn toward us, O God, and restore our life again, and your people will rejoice in you.
Show us, Lord, your mercy and grant us your salvation).
The accompanying music, in Gregorian chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published at Solesmes in 1979. The performance is by the “Schola der Benediktinerabtei Gerleve”, directed by Gottfried Meier. The recording can be found on the CD “Gregorianische Gesänge – Der Herr ist nahe”, published by M.A.T. in 2000.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
