Dear Friends in Christ,
As we enter Advent’s second week, the message of  St. John the Baptist rings forcefully from the pages  of Scripture into our ears and hearts. This Sunday’s  Gospel contains St. John’s challenging message of  repentance. Though his message was strong and  disquieting, St. John attracted many people.  Perhaps it was because they knew that what he was  saying was true.  
In Jesus’ times, much like our own, there was  widespread need in society.  In the Old Testament,  through the prophets, God instructed His people to  act justly, to protect the vulnerable and to worship  God alone. Yet, we know that they often disregarded  His message, acting selfishly, taking advantage of  those in need and substituting the worship of idols  for that of the one, true God.  
St. John, the last of the biblical prophets, made it  clear that the promised Messiah would soon come  and that the people had to get their lives in order  immediately. There was no more time to put off  conversion. There was not a later moment to begin to  act in justice towards those in need.  This is why he  was so forceful with those who were complacent.  
People came to see St. John because they  recognized the truth in what he was saying. This  Sunday’s gospel reminds us that all of us have a  yearning for truth in our hearts. We have an innate  ability to recognize deception and we don’t like it.  Truth is liberating and a cause for joy…even if the  truth hurts.
This Advent, let us rejoice in the truth of the Father’s  love for us as we are, yet always calling us to grow in  faith, hope and love.
In Christ,
Fr. Michael