December 7, 2025, 12:00 PM
John the Baptist speaks words that might make us uncomfortable. Words about sin. Words about judgment. Words about repentance.
Sometimes words like these are so uncomfortable that we try to explain them away. Usually, we attempt some sort of history. John preached before Jesus, we say, and he was all about an angry God. Jesus changed all that, talking only about love and mercy. Or we try to pin it on Vatican II—the Council changed all that! At worst, we just shrug our shoulders and say something like: “Oh, nobody cares about that stuff anymore.”
Of course, none of that’s good history. None of that’s good theology. Jesus didn’t need to reveal a merciful God—Israel had known God’s mercy from the outset. Vatican II continued the Church’s concern to invite sinners to discover God’s mercy. And, yes, many in our world have brushed aside the notion of sin. But we can only do that by ignoring the evidence that our world takes up the selfish and violent paths of sin to this very day.
Let’s not fool ourselves. When John the Baptist talks about sin, he’s including our sin. He takes it seriously (he is, after all, God’s prophet). And he offers a healing remedy: confession and repentance. By God’s grace, John’s promises are readily available to us. Christ gave his Church a sacrament that forgives when he told his apostles “Whatever sin you forgive is forgiven”. And that sacrament continues to bring life and hope. We’re here every Monday and Thursday evening, 5:30 to 7pm. (Plus, we have a deanery penance service coming up on December 17 at St Joseph the Worker. And don’t forget: we’re happy to meet with you one on one at your convenience.) We combine that time with Eucharistic adoration—to create an atmosphere of quiet reflection.
As priests, we’re charged to listen with kindness, to treat you with mercy, to welcome you joyfully to God’s forgiveness.
Let’s make this Advent a time when we find the joy of God’s love and mercy.
