Friday, December 3, 2010

PROVING BY DOING


Gospel Reflection 
2nd Sunday of Advent(A)
December 5, 2010


I was a working student when I went into Law School.  I used to teach kids in the elementary level and I teach them to “Tell the Truth.”

Now as a lawyer, I still teach my clients to tell the truth, but there is a difference between simply telling the truth and proving the truth.  So I tell them “This is how you will tell the Truth.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel, St. John the Baptist is not only telling us to Repent, but teaching us how to PROVE REPENTANCE by bringing the fruits thereof. He tells us that a tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.

We have heard it before - REPENTANCE, but what does it exactly mean.
When I was a school boy, there was a time when I found myself crying in the confessional because I felt that I killed Jesus all over again because of my sins. I thought that crying made things better, but then I realized that I was only making a fool of myself since I was committing the same set of sins.

REPENTANCE is not only REMORSE from sin but REFORMATION.
Confession is an act for repentance, but it is not proof of repentance. Neither are the guilt, the tears and remorse considered fruits of repentance.

The fruit of repentance is not for us to become sinless. That’s impossible, and God does not require us to do the impossible. We will always fall to SIN because we are human. God does not expect us to be perfect and sinless.

The Proof of repentance is a changed way of life, a life centered on Christ. If there is no change in behavior, there can be no fruits of repentance, because repentance never happened in the first place.

The Fruit of Repentance does not happen overnight such as a tree does not bear fruit overnight. Repentance requires the Spirit to work on us, for some it may be prevalent, for others it may be subtle.

The only way to accomplish this is through Jesus Christ, because he is THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE.

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Matthew 3:1-12 (King James Version)

 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
 4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
 10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.


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